Jacob Grayham
Parents: Ronny and Tina Grayham
Hometown: Bakersfield, Mo.
Grade: 11
FFA Chapter: Bakersfield FFA
FFA Advisor: Lyn Cotter
What do you like best about being on a farm?
“I love being on the farm. It teaches me a good work ethic, gives me something to do, stay out of trouble in town – that’s what my dad tells me. We have registered Black Angus cattle and I like looking at all the genetics and all the different kinds of bulls there are. We use the AI process.”
Do your mom and dad work off the farm?
“Dad is a boilermaker. Mom is a stay-at-home mom.”
Have you thought about a career in agriculture?
“Actually, I’ve thought about going on the job with my dad, boilermaking. When I don’t work there, I’ll be working on the farm, building up the cattle herd. I want to live on the farm by the time I’m at least 25 or 30, full time. I want to be a boilermaker to make money to eventually live on the farm full time.”
Who has influenced you the most, as it relates to agriculture?
“My dad. He’s the one who taught me all the stuff about cattle. Also, my AI technician, Stan Smith. He helps us a lot with building up our herd and getting better genetics. And our principal here at Bakersfield High School, Troy Wiesner, has helped us out with building up our herd. He was the start of it all, trying to help us out, especially the Black Angus cattle.”
In your lifetime, what do you think will be the biggest difference in agriculture?
“Probably technology. Instead of so much labor on the farm it’s all going to computers and technology. I think there will be less people and equipment with more technology.”
