Age: 16
Parents: Jim and Jackie Griffin
Hometown: Siloam Springs
FFA Chapter: Siloam Springs FFA
FFA Advisor: Glenn Walker
4-H Club: Logan 4-H
Club Leader: Jessica Street
What is your favorite aspect of agriculture?
“My favorite part of agriculture is working with animals. In my case horses, chickens and dairy cows.”
Who is the most influential person in your life?
“My grandma, Ava Griffin, taught me so much that she embedded in me a love of both agriculture which she fostered by going to all of my shows and a love of people reinforced by encouraging me to become involved in community projects and to mentor others.
What is your current involvement in agriculture?
“We breed, raise and show all dairy breeds, though I love Jerseys the best. As an Arkansas Dairy Ambassador, I travel around the state awarding ribbons in shows, as well as speaking to various civil organizations. I help work the cattle with our health protocols as well as moving them from field to field as needed. After school I sometimes am involved in FFA activities such as quiz bowl practice. In the evenings, I often do something for 4-H. In FFA I am the historian and participate in parliamentary procedure, prepared public speaking in livestock judging. I also compete in livestock judging with 4-H, in addition to being a County Council officer at large.
Awards: “In FFA I won second place in our sub area for public speaking about milk labeling and testing. Two awards that are important to me are winning state champion at the Four State Dairy Days in 2015 with a Jersey cow named Jennifer, having previously won showmanship with her at Southern Nationals.”
What are your future plans?
“I plan on getting a degree in animal science, hopefully at Oklahoma State University, and then working in the industry in areas such as genetics or nutrition development.”
