Hometown: Waggoner, Okla.
Family: Husband, Bobby Eubanks; and children, Josie Pruitt, Layne Eubanks, and Abbie and Mayzi McCarthy
In Town: Jessica Eubanks is a transportation officer at the Oklahoma School for the Blind. She has been in her position with the state for about eight months.
In the Country: Jessica and her family have a small show pig operation.
“My two oldest daughters started it with their leftover gilts from show season,” Jessica explained. “They started breeding them, and we started raising show pigs. We will have our first litter this month. We have raised show lambs in the past, but this is our first pigs.”
They currently have two gilts, one crossbred and one Berkshire. Jessica’s daughters plan to raise a pig for market shows, and each will retain a gilt for future breeding purposes, then sell the other pigs to fellow livestock exhibitors.
“My great-grandparents were farmers, but no other family member does anything agriculture-related,” Jessica explained. “I guess we are like first-generation farmers.”
The journey to animal agriculture began when Jessica wanted to get her children involved in agriculture.
“I wanted my kids to know more about everyday life,” Jessica said. “They all play sports, but we asked them if they would like to try showing, and they all jumped on board.”
Bobby had run a club lamb operation for several years, so the sheep came first.
“Now my kids show everything but cattle,” she said. “We run the circuit year-round. We enjoy it, and the family and friends we made in the barn. My girls have learned so much in the process, which has taught them responsibility for life after school.”
Jessica is also a 4-H Club leader.
“I wanted my girls to be involved and be active,” Jessica said. “I also wanted to start them in something we could do together and make memories. 4-H isn’t just about showing livestock; there are so many other things to it. I wanted them to be involved, show them all it has to offer and show them that the paper we write on and all of the food we eat from a farm. It’s about teaching them that everything we have comes from a farmer.
“It’s getting the word out that there are about 4-H and leadership opportunities. I have an incoming senior who has stepped in, and she needs that leadership for college, so she’s doing all of the speech and leadership contests. You don’t have to pick agriculture in 4-H; it helps you learn how to conduct yourself. I’m excited to get everyone involved and joining in.”
While Jessica may have found her way to agriculture, she is glad she can offer a path to the industry for her daughters.
“I’m glad they have chosen agriculture and have found a home in it,” she said. “My 13-year-old is active in sports, but she is going to devote her time to cheerleading and the rest of her time being in the barn with animals. It was a big decision for her.”
