Jaron Watkins
Age: 15
Parents: Mandy and Heath Watkins
Hometown: Heavener, Okla.
FFA Chapter: Heavener FFA
Advisor: Jeremy Krebbs
What is your favorite aspect of agriculture?
“I like showing hogs because they are more like family members than production animals in the way that you care for them and train them.”
Who is the most influential person in your life?
“There are a lot of influential people but one of them would be my mom because she cooks, make sure I do my homework, pressures me about grades and helps me learn how to care for the animals properly.”
What is your current involvement in agriculture, including your daily routine?
“We have cows, as well as one sow soon to be bred as a new production venture. I also have show pigs and get them in October to show from December through March. Chores include caring for the pigs by feeding, watering and training as well as helping my dad feed the cows and our mixed breed sow after school. I’ve even castrated once or twice.”
What are some of your agricultural memories?
“I remember helping my dad pick out show pigs when I started to show when I was 10. We didn’t always live on a farm so I knew nothing about what I was looking for. Instead, I was looking for a cool color. My first pig was Purdy, and I have no idea why I named her that. I also had one pig that was nasty all the time because it loved the mud so I named it Dirty. One kind of scary but cool memory is when a momma cow recently lost a baby. She thought a different one was hers and I was between her and the calf. She tried to run me over but my donkey, who never lets me get even close, ran between us and chased her away or I would have been rolled up.”
