Lynsey Rector
Parents: Steven and Tina Rector
School: Senior at Fair Grove High School
4-H Club: Sho-Me 4-H
4-H Leader: Terri Johnson
FFA Chapter: Fair Grove FFA
FFA Advisor: Matt Crutcher
Agriculture Involvement: Lynsey Rector’s passion for agriculture sparked with a visit to her town’s largest festival. “I went to the Fair Grove parade one year and I said to my parents I want goats,” explained Lynsey. She made that declaration when she was 10 years old and has been raising Boer goats ever since. “Some kids, their parents drag them into livestock shows but I dragged my parents into it,” laughed Lynsey. As a senior at Fair Grove High School, Lynsey dedicates much of her energy to 4-H and FFA. She has held numerous positions in both organizations through the years. Currently she serves as vice-president of the Sho-Me 4-H Club and as student advisor in her FFA chapter.
Life on Her Family Farm: Lynsey helps her family raise Simmental cattle, Boer goats and market hogs on their farm in Fair Grove. Though she enjoys working with all the animals on her farm she says the goats are by far her favorite. “The goats were something different. They are smaller and they are something you can handle. They take up less space but not necessarily less time,” said Lynsey. She spends every morning before school and every afternoon after school caring for her goats. Her devotion is so strong she convinced her father to hook up cameras in their barn and a monitor in her room. When her goats are ready to kid, Lynsey sets her alarm and checks the monitor throughout the night. Lynsey also enjoys showing her goats, cattle and hogs in area shows. “I like the feeling of accomplishment because the animals I show I have raised,” said Lynsey. Her hard work is paying off. Lynsey has had much success in the show ring. Her list of successes include Grand Champion Boer Goat at least once in almost all the county fairs. She has also snagged the top showmanship prize at the Gold Buckle Gala and Ozark Empire Fair.
Future Plans: After graduation from Fair Grove High School in the spring of 2015, Lynsey plans to attend Ozarks Technical Community College through the A+ program. Following her two-years at OTC, Lynsey intends to attend Missouri State University or University of Missouri to complete a degree in Agriculture Education with the ultimate goal of becoming an ag-teacher.
