• Age: 17
• Hometown: Mountain Home, Ark.
• Parents: Tom and Leann Silzell
• Sibling: Maggie Silzell
• FFA chapter: Mountain Home FFA
• Advisors: Josh Baker and Carson White
What is your involvement in agriculture? “I have been a part of agriculture my whole life. My family has owned and operated a beef cattle farm since before I was born. I have spent most of my childhood and teenage years helping my dad with anything from feeding cows, pulling calves, administering medicine, hauling hay, weaning calves and so much more. I recently attended an artificial insemination class with my dad, where I learned how to AI cattle so we can use this practice on our farm. This all began the foundation for my love of agriculture. I am a member of the Arkansas Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA), where I serve as the board treasurer. I also am a member of the Mountain Home FFA, where I also serve as the club treasurer. Showing cattle is also one of my favorite hobbies.”
What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture/living on a farm? “Watching how consistency and hard work payoff. Whenever we pick a set of replacement heifers to keep and grow into cows, it takes awhile to get them to the cow phase. It is rewarding to see after months of feeding them daily and caring for them, they grow from small heifer calves into cows that become a part of the herd.”
What are your future plans? “My ambition for the future is to graduate from Mountain Home High School and then attend the University of Arkansas. After I obtain my bachelor’s in animal science, I will pursue a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. I also want to continue throughout my life farming and owning cattle of my own.”
Awards: Farmington FFA Cattle Clash Supreme Heifer; AJCA Spring Fling Supreme Heifer; Crowley’s Ridge Classic Supreme and Reserve Supreme Heifer; AJCA High Point Supreme Heifer; AJCA High-Point Angus Heifer; AJCA High-Point Simmental Heifer; Arkansas State Fair Spring Show Reserve Supreme Heifer; Arkansas State Fair Grand Champion Simmental Heifer; Baxter County Supreme Heifer; Arkansas State Fair Grand Champion Senior English Showman; and Arkansas Youth Expo Reserve Champion Senior Showman.
