Hometown: Locust Grove, Ark.
Parents: Jon and Jessica Silka
FFA Chapter: Locust Grove FFA
Advisors: Ethan Propp and Ray Pell
Class: Chloe is a freshman and Blaine is a junior in high school
What show awards have you won?
Blaine: “Market Goat Division Champion at Tulsa State Fair, Reserve Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer at Mayes County Fair, top five showman at the American Royal.”
Chloe: “Reserve Grand Champion Wether Arkansas/Oklahoma State Fair, Reserve Grand Market Goat Showman at Tulsa State Fair, Reserve Intermediate showman at Tulsa State Fair, Reserve Division Champion Breeding Doe at Tulsa State Fair, top five showman at the American Royal.”
Do you compete on judging teams?
Chole:“We both judge livestock.”
Blaine:“I was on the state-winning livestock judging team in 2019.”
Do you live on a farm or ranch? What are your jobs?
Chloe: “We live on a ranch where we feed, work and move cows, along with hauling and feeding hay. We have a cow/calf operation at home, where we sell the steer calves at weaning and keep the heifers as replacements. In the past, we have bought our show animals, but we are starting to raise them.”
Who has influenced your involvement in agriculture?
Chloe:“For me, many people have influenced my involvement in agriculture, but if I had to choose, it would be my brother and my dad. My brother always gives me the most motivation because I hate losing – especially to him. We’re both very competitive. My dad and I have always been close. We’re a lot alike, so he always keeps me going.”
Blaine:“To me, the most influential people would have to be my dad or my dad’s best friend, Mike Booth. They have made a huge impact on me.”
Do your future goals and plans include agriculture?
Chloe:“I plan to continue my livestock judging career in college. After that, I would like to attend vet school at Oklahoma State. Neither of us are sure where our college judging career will start, but we both want to end up at OSU.
Blaine:“I plan to continue my livestock judging career in college, and hope to eventually become an ag teacher, as well as raising show cattle.”
