Age: 19
Hometown: Mountain Home, Ark.
Parents: Jacquie Rohr Albright
FFA Chapter: Mountain Home FFA
Chapter Advisors: Josh Baker, Tyler Lewis, Jacquie Albright, Carson White, Owen Carpenter
What is your involvement in agriculture? “My family has been involved in agriculture and FFA all my life, so I was involved at a young age and began attending FFA Camps and Conventions as a 1-year-old. I started showing bottle calves at the county fair at a young age and continued participating in all FFA activities. I grew a giant cabbage and a giant pumpkin with my papa and began entering other vegetables and plants in the county fair to eventually win several Best of Shows. During COVID, I purchased my first lamb and joined the Mountain Home FFA Show Team. I kept my project at the Mountain Home FFA Livestock Barn and eventually added a meat rabbit project, and purchased four more market lambs. I currently serve as Sentinel of the Mountain Home FFA Chapter.”
What is your favorite part of being involved in agriculture? “I have always struggled in school and social activities. Having a communication disorder combined with anxiety and sensory problems, school has been a difficult me. Being involved in agriculture and the FFA show team has allowed me to make lasting friendships and be genuinely included and successful in a group with my peers. I have found success and identified interests and skills that will help me for the rest of my life. I gained self-esteem and felt like I was one of the team members. Working with a market lamb increased my social and communication skills and allowed me to be a part of a highly-reputable team. Most of my classes had been in a pull-out resource room, and I have not always been able to spend quality time with regular education students in an activity where I worked alongside them and had something in common with them. Owning my livestock project and traveling with them helped me succeed individually and as part of a team. I have been able to share my experiences with peers, teachers and the community who had very little understanding of market lambs. This experience has helped them and me grow.”
What are your future plans? “I have purchased two more market lambs for the upcoming year and then plan to purchase a heifer as an additional project in the next year. My high school is a Career Academy and I will be involved in on-the-job training and internships in a veterinary clinic and local golf course. I am considering going into animal care and service. I have spent a considerable amount of time helping the elderly with animals in a senior complex near my home and I plan to complete my Service Learning SAE next year. “
Awards: State Champion FFA Sheep Proficiency – Gold, State FFA Degree, Most Christlike Camper at Leggetts You Gotta Believe, Grand Champion Meat Rabbit- District, Best of Show Produce, Plants, Flowers – Baxter County, Outstanding Baxter County Farm Bureau Student for December.
