Ava Andrews’ love for show cattle and FFA allows her to share both with younger kids
CLAREMORE, OKLA. – Ava Andrews has been part of the cattle-showing world for almost half her life. However, the Claremore, Okla., native’s interest in the time-honored tradition dates back to even before she started at the age of 11.
Ava has been part of FFA for almost as long.
“My dad actually showed beef cattle when he was in school and my grandma did as well,” Ava said. “So, I kind of got my interest there and my family and I had been raising butcher hogs and butcher cattle since as long as I can remember. So I’ve always been involved in it, but the showing part really kind of came from my grandma and my dad. And then we had some great FFA teachers at the time and 4-H leaders that kind of helped pique my interest there.”
Now at the age of 19, despite being a full-time college student and working a part-time job, Ava is considered a veteran in cattle showing. She is also a long-time and active member of the FFA.
“I kind of got involved in the FFA my eighth-grade year when I started showing dairy cattle,” Ava said. “Before that I exhibited hogs, but I became an officer and I gave speeches and participated on numerous teams. But my main focus was showing dairy cattle and I traveled all over from Texas to Wisconsin, Missouri, Arkansas, numerous times to show, as well as showing on the local level here in Rogers County in the state of Oklahoma.”
Over the years, Ava has been able to combine her passion for showing with her devoted interest in the FFA to help usher in the next generation of members. That is the main reason she has stayed around for so long.
“I guess foremost would definitely be my love for dairy cattle especially, but being able to help those that are wanting to get into it or maybe are already in it but want to get further into it,” Ava said. “Being able to help those younger kids get their start and kind of just get to use the opportunities or have those opportunities that were given to me when I first got into it.”
When Ava is talking to kids who may have an interest in joining the FFA, she wants them to know what the 95-year-old organization can do for them and that it’s not just about animals.
“I hope that they’re able to take that it’s okay to go out and talk to new people,” said Ava. “You never know the opportunities that will come from them or that they may be involved with, that you can be involved with and have fun with it and meet new people and that will kind of set you up for what you want to do in life or maybe even help expose you to what you may want to become later down in life.”
Ava says being part of the FFA has also helped direct her career path as well. She has plans to be a large animal veterinarian after she graduates college.
“I’m in school right now for an associate’s degree that will allow me to go pretty well anywhere in the state to get that large animal accreditation there,” Ava said. “Then I hopefully will specialize in dairy cattle and have my own practice one day.”
Ava is the vice president of the Collinsville Tri-County Fair Board, as well as the superintendent of the dairy show. She was also the co-superintendent of the dairy show at the Rogers County Fair and was the 2021-2022 Oklahoma State Dairy Ambassador.
This will be Ava’s final year in the FFA. There is not much left for her to accomplish after recently earning the American Degree, which is the highest degree anyone can earn at the FFA.
Yet, Ava plans to still stay involved with the organization, which she says has helped her in many ways she never expected and provided her with skills she will carry with her long into the future.
“I think being in the FFA was important to me because it helped me become maybe a better leader,” Ava said. “But the public speaking aspect of being able to get up in front of a room and talk or even just being able to talk to those that I really don’t know, but being able to lead myself in the responsibility roles, that opportunity presented me with that now I have taken and applied to my life now as far as working at my job and keeping myself on the straight path there.”
