![]( "The BISD Show Team turned in a strong effort at this year’s Johnson County Livestock Show. They captured 26 spots at the Sale of Champions more than doubling the number they held the previous year. BURLESON STAR/COURTESY PHOTO")
The BISD Show Team turned in a strong effort at this year’s Johnson County Livestock Show. They captured 26 spots at the Sale of Champions more than doubling the number they held the previous year. BURLESON STAR/COURTESY PHOTO
The 2019 Johnson County Livestock Show proved to be a significant year for the Burleson ISD show team. Of the 1,865 entries by 784 exhibitors, the BISD Show Team occupied 26 spots at the Sale of Champions, more than in 2018.
According to Taylor Greaney, Burleson High School Ag Teacher, investment of time and commitment contributed to the exceptionally good showing for the Burleson Centennial Future Farmers of America (FFA) which earned its first Grand Champion title. Colton Spruce’s Breeding Rabbits were named Grand Champion, Champion Fancy and Champion Sr. Showmanship. Sydney Aalbers’ project was named Grand Champion in Wood Works at the show held January 7-11.
“The thing that impresses me the most about this team is their dedication to this program,” she says. “They get up every morning and night, twice a day, every single day to take care of their animals and prepare them for show. Burleson is growing in its winnings every year.”
Students from BHS FFA secured eight sales slots while CHS FFA secured eighteen sales slots including two Grand Champions with animals in the sale of champions. Students with placing entries included Colton Spruce, Sydney Aalbers, Victoria Brown, Matthew Powell, Kealy Brown, Cooper Cowan, Tyler Henry, Jacob Dodgen, Hunter Ford, Wyatt Mosely, Allison Baca, Andi Tice, Kristen Ruby, Huston Cain, Jacob Chapman, Lacey Pendley, Tayton Conerway, Bryce Scheller, Ally Rodriguez, Dayton Allen, Kei-Essence White, Savanah Lehew and Payton Midkiff.
According to Greaney, the BISD show team was created to include both Burleson High School and Centennial High School FFA students. The Burleson FFA program was founded in 1929 and the Centennial program was chartered in 2017. Most importantly, the FFA is an extension of classroom learning and provides opportunities for leadership development, personal growth and career success.
“Each year we grow not only in numbers but dedication,” the educator noted. “From our students to our Ag teachers, dedication and hard work is the magic that makes it all happen. The BISD show team is all about helping grow kids to be positive and hard-working members of society.”
Parents and teachers credit past FFA advisors Julie Knight and Lance Bean are credited for getting the barn for the show team. Past district career and technical education director, Larry Bills, was also involved in securing the barn. The show team started with about 50 different livestock projects ranging from pigs to breeding rabbits.
Community support is important as well.
“We are thankful to the 2019 Burleson Buyer’s Pool members who secured funds because it supports our students and helps to further the programs, like the expansion of our ag barn,” Greany said. “Those contributors are Rob Orr, Joe Allen Transport, Southside Bank, Affiliated Bank, Colonial National Mortgage, PE Capital/Matt Powell, Rendon Road Animal Clinic, Dylan Brooks, Burleson FFA Alumni, Primesource Roofing and Blossoms on the Boulevard.”
In the bigger picture, Greaney said the most important thing about the FFA show team is not that it grows champion animals but champions people.
“So many kids these days have to go through things so early in life that no child should ever have to go through or deal with,” she said. “We strive to be the adults that these kids feel safe with and give them a program to submerse themselves in to stay on the straight and narrow. Kids need something to feel accepted and loved, we do our best to do that for them.”