Planting "Seed of Success" with Mady McAshlan and Rachel Sawyer

Exciting News! Join us on the latest episode of "FFA Chronicles" as we sit down with FHS senior Mady McAshlan and AG teacher Rachel Sawyer to dive deep into the world of FFA!

Mady is a true FFA enthusiast with a passion for agriculture and leadership. She'll be sharing her incredible journey in FFA, from her early days to her senior year at FHS. You won't want to miss her inspiring story and the impact FFA has had on her life!

Rachel Sawyer, our amazing AG teacher, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. She'll be shedding light on the importance of FFA in education and how it shapes the future of our young agricultural leaders.

Curious about the FFA experience at FHS? Wondering how you can get involved?  Tune in to get all your burning questions answered and gain valuable insights into the world of FFA!

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform and get ready to be inspired by Mady and Rachel's FFA journey! #FFAChronicles #FutureOfAgriculture #FFA #The Podcast #BecauseKids

Transcript

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Speaker 1 I want to first say that I'm sick. And I know we told you this before. I'm so impressed with your social media. Oh, my. Speaker 2 Gosh. That I was like, really? Speaker 1 And I'm not kidding. You should be doing some sort. Unknown Of response as I speak that. Speaker 4 Idea. Well, first of all, be smart. Speaker 1 Because it's just total PR for the groups out there. Right. But you're really you do it really well. Oh, yeah. And you keep your parents informed. And it's really cute and funny and like, super adorable, which try to remember. We do have a couple of things to talk about. We talked one Tik Tok thing yesterday that would be good for them to do. Speaker 1 Oh, with the pig. Speaker 2 Yes. Yes. We have a couple of ideas for FFA this year. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 5 But my gosh, yeah, that was it. Speaker 2 The tick tock. Tick tock. Like, it's like with a Taylor Swift song, I think in the background and it's like people they've put their picture. Speaker 5 Up and like, in the end, instead of around, Yes, I did it with a dog. Can you all do that with an FFA animal? Speaker 2 Like a pig or a cow? Speaker 4 We don't have any pigs yet, so it would be like October-November giving a chicken. Speaker 2 A chicken. Speaker 5 We have chickens, we have. Speaker 4 Laying and chickens. Speaker 1 Okay. Can't wait to see that. Speaker 2 Yeah, we can make it happen. Speaker 1 And I am seeing some stuff on social media. Let's make sure that we talk about like FFA family night and stuff like that that you have coming up. But first we would like to welcome you to season three Episode one of Feisty, the podcast where. Dana Owen That's me, and Kelsey goes. Speaker 2 That's me, have. Speaker 1 The pleasure of interviewing interesting people and discuss anything and everything. Friends, what I super excited to kick off our first episode for the 2324 season with a teacher and a student. This year we have our FFA Reps Senior Maddie MC Ashlyn. Unknown Hey Maddie. Teacher Rachel Sawyer. Speaker 1 Hello. That's really weird. Speaker 2 Rachel Schultz I know. Yeah, I know. When I've seen your emails come in, I'm like, It's so strange. Speaker 5 Yes. Speaker 1 So how long have you been Rachel Sawyer? Speaker 4 June 4th. Speaker 2 Oh, so. So that we're writing it? Speaker 4 Yes. I really don't like my signature. Speaker 5 Like, Yeah, it looks like I'm trying. Speaker 4 Too hard to get it right. Speaker 5 Yeah. Speaker 2 Yeah, I get that. Speaker 1 Well, congratulations. That's all. Speaker 5 For you. Speaker 1 So let's start with ladies. Let's introduce yourself. Maddie just told us a couple little nuggets about herself. Nuggets? Speaker 5 Okay, so. Speaker 6 I'm manning Mic Ashland. As some people know, my mom is Wendy McCaslin. She she's the principal at one song right now. She's been in Feisty for quite some time now. So I've always been here too, but I'm really active in FFA. I'm friends with FFA first ever area officer, which is been a really big deal for me. It was it's just a blessing to be able to serve at the area level. Speaker 6 And then I'm also involved in livestock heavily. I've been raising livestock for ten years now and I'm really sad that it's senior year and it's all the livestock stuff is coming to an end. But I'm also excited for this new chapter in my life. Speaker 1 That's awesome. That's wonderful. We're going to get into more questions about you moving into college and what that looks like for you in just a second. Rachel, tell us a little bit about yourself. Speaker 4 Okay. So this is my eighth year at Friendswood High School teaching agriculture science. I'm also a Friendswood High School grad class of 2012. And I mean, I really enjoy it. I don't imagine being anywhere else. I came right back. I went to college at Tarleton State University, and I've been back here ever since. Speaker 1 So tell us exactly what you teach. Speaker 4 Okay, so this year I teach principles of agriculture, small animal management, equine science, agribusiness, horticulture and floral design. Speaker 1 Wow, that's awesome. Speaker 2 Yeah. Floral design students. By the way, we have, like, monthly arrangements of the month I think that we subscribe to. Oh, my gosh, they do such a fabulous job. Drew Yeah, they're awesome. They're awesome. Speaker 1 Do you like look at Pinterest for ideas? How do you find your ideas of what you're around your monthly arrangements are going to be? Speaker 4 So that's our advanced floral design class and that is like their biggest project each month. And we kind of just leave it to the kids so they can design around different holidays. And actually, Maddy, I think you were in the class last year, so you can kind of speak on it too, and they pick which flowers to use and what containers they want to use. Speaker 4 I mean, the kids do it all. Speaker 1 Oh, wow. And then you order from whatever they're wanting and then do you have a website that you order from? Speaker 4 So we use two different retailers. There's Southern Floral Company in Houston and Bill Dorian. There are wholesalers that. Speaker 1 We. Speaker 4 Order through. Speaker 1 That's so awesome. I absolutely love and we've used y'all for quite a number of things in events, right? So but you floral does advanced floral design like you don't contract out with like if like people in the community it's just we're doing school district stuff correct. Speaker 4 Yes. Okay. We just don't have the space for it in our floral design lab and we don't have enough cooler space to to do all of that. And this year we actually have seven floral floral design classes. And I think we're at like 210, 215 regular floral kids. Wow. Speaker 1 Now, that's unbelievable. Didn't you the first year it was one class or was it always multiple classes? Speaker 4 My first year here, I taught four and then I think we had a part time position for two. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 4 So we've always had six since I've been here. This is the first year with seven. Speaker 1 Now, has anyone graduated and gone on to be a floral actually opened up their own floral floral design shop. Obviously hard work for me to say. Speaker 4 I don't not that I know of. I do know some that we actually have a practicum course that their senior year they can go work in an agriculture field. So yeah we have students at APA across the street actually. Yeah. And that go for two class periods and work in her shop and help her put together arrangements and help in her storefront. Speaker 4 And some kids have gone off to college and, you know, gotten a part time job at a florist and that helps. Speaker 2 I love it. I know that's so 11. Speaker 1 So, Maddie, let's start with you and tell us a little bit. Could you share with us your love for animals and kind of agriculture, how that came about that you became so involved with? I feel like I kind of know this answer, but our listeners may not know how did you why FFA so originally? Speaker 6 So I started horseback riding lessons and I was about eight years old and then we had moved to Santa Fe and I was like, Oh mom, we have a place I can get my own horse. And they were like, You're eight years old. You can't handle a horse just quite yet. And so then I wanted a cow. They were like, Cows are like 1200 pounds and you're like 50. Speaker 6 So we're going to go with no on the cow. And so eventually they let me get rabbits. So I've been racing market rabbits for ten years and that's where it all started. I went to my first county fair, did not make the auction, did not get placed, and then the next year moved on. The lambs did not make auction, got dead, lasted both of them. Speaker 6 But I was loving it. Like I literally had no idea what I was doing, but I just knew I loved like the agriculture industry. And now, now, as I've I've had a little bit more success with the livestock and all those things. And I started out in four H and then I came into FFA, actually. Well, now, Miss Lawyer, Miss Holtz was my teacher, but no, so I came into Miss Holtz principles of ag class and I was like, I'm just going to like, do livestock. Speaker 6 I'm not going to do this like FFA kind of stuff. But then like she kept telling me about all the things we do and I was like, Oh my God. Speaker 5 I want to do that. Speaker 6 And so then I just go right in and I did everything in anything I could. Speaker 1 Which is such a good way to just go about life in general. And I'm a mom and I'm really about to give in mom advice. Okay, So just bear with me for a second. But my hope for you is that going off to college, you do the exact same thing because so many times some people just like they'll dabble in this, but not really be all in. Speaker 1 But the fact that you went all in is really the only way to be. Speaker 5 Yeah. Speaker 1 A part of a school or a team or a group and so on. Way to go. That's like, really? That's awesome. Speaker 2 And I even love that. Like, you didn't have a ton of success as far as like the placement initially and like, you just so hold on to that. Like, I just enjoy this, I love this and just continued with it and watched as that just progressed over time. That's awesome. Speaker 1 Thank you. Is awesome. As a senior and a leader in your class, what are some of the most valuable lessons that you've actually learned through your involvement with FFA? Would you say? Speaker 6 I came into FFA I had done for age leadership positions, but with board leadership positions, there's not as much like public speaking and like I guess PR type things that go on. So but FFA really liked pushed me out of my comfort, well, really shoved me out of my comfort zone and it made me speak in front of people like I used to be way shy, like hide behind my mom, just like leave the people like, hi. Speaker 6 But, but now I can pretty much talk to anybody in, like, can't shut me up once I start talking. Speaker 1 So do you think the trick for that is that you just have to start doing it? Like what? What is your advice to kids out there, to other students that are that would say, Oh, I'm super shy. I don't I'm not going to be able to speak in front of people or I can't do that. Like, what's your advice to as someone who you would say you were shy and didn't do that, but now you are? Speaker 1 How do you get out of that kind of habit of not being able to speak in front of people? Speaker 6 Well, really, what kind of started that for me is like my peers. So like my first year as a freshman, you can't be an officer. But the older kids are officers. And I remember like the officers came up to me and like started talking to me and like, they just made me feel really comfortable and I just kind of started talking and they would be like, Hey, Maddie, at this meeting, can you, like, make a motion? Speaker 6 And they'd like, Give me like what to say? So then I'd stand up in front of everybody, say it. And I was like, okay, you know, that that wasn't so bad. And then I just kind of like you just kind of flourish. You just like, come out of your shell and you just once you start, you can't stop. Speaker 6 And it's just all one big thing. Speaker 1 Yeah. And it's practice too, right? So lots of times, the more that you do it, the more that I think the more that you're prepared and kind of know what you're doing, then the easier it is to do it, you know, sort of thing. So I think preparation is a, is a big part of that. So it's clear that you've had a lot of experience with raising animals. Speaker 1 What is one memorable challenge or event that you can think of? Share That is an interesting story or I don't know, am I saying that right? Yeah. What's like. Speaker 2 What's one of. Yeah, a challenging time that you've experienced in FFA. Speaker 6 So one of them. So this past year I went to Rodeo also, which is my first time ever, like competing with lambs at Rodeo Austin. And I had a really good cell phone. I loved him and like. Speaker 1 You had a good what. Speaker 6 Southdown sheep. There's like, there's like little cotton balls. They're white all over with, like a little gray nose. They're really cute. Speaker 5 They're cutest breed. Yes. Speaker 6 His name was 71 because that was his tag number. Speaker 1 Really? Speaker 6 Original. Speaker 5 Creative. Yeah. Speaker 6 Oh, so in the livestock industry, animals are replaced by weight classes. So, like, you have to weigh so much to be in this class. And so most of the time you drop like two or £3 on their weight card to get them into a lighter class. But you still have to be enough for way back because you have to have like you have to weigh within so much. Speaker 6 Like you can't put £20 less and if you do, you'll be disqualified. And so like we played with my weight a little bit to get me into like the second class. So I'd only be with like Middleweight South Downs, kind of more of my size. But weight brakes came out and I was the lightest one of the heavy South down class. Speaker 6 So the difference in the heavy class between mine and the like heaviest limit at the whole show was about £30. So I was going against like a land that was huge against my like £115. I'm like, Let. Speaker 1 Me stop you right there. So in general, the more heavier lands, they tend to win more or just bigger. Speaker 6 At that point, they're just bigger enough. Like you have two lanes that are equal, like you're like, Oh, this one's just as good as this one. Like, has the same market qualities, but this one's bigger. This one therefore has more meat. Oh gosh, it would like. Sure. So you'd like more price per pound? Sure. Speaker 1 So someone's more likely to bite purchase that one because. Yes. Speaker 6 Okay. Gotcha. They're just bigger. So you want to be bigger than everybody else. So you're, you know, have the upper hand. And I remember going through that class and like, I got pulled. Okay, So in a major show, there's about 60 to 70 lambs per class, which is a lot. So not even everybody gets to like, have a second look. Speaker 6 So you walk around the ring and the judge will like, do this, like motion his hand to you for you to go to the scale to get away back in like so the judge can look at your animals like in time to be placed. So I immediately got pulled and I was like, Oh my God, like, I'm tiny out here. Speaker 6 And I just got pulled. So, you know, made way back, went through all that. And then we used to we're going through the class and like kids just kept getting pulled and I was still out there like, you know, like being place like higher and higher. And Rodeo Austin is one of the hardest ones to make auction out and one to only four in the class of 70 make auction, which is like really hard to do right. Speaker 6 I got so I was like there was four of us out there and I was like, Oh my God, I just need to auction it like Austin. And then I ended up winning my class. And now the first time I ever made like or the first time I had ever won a class in a major stock show. It's like a highlight of my show career. Speaker 6 But yeah, I thought I was screwed just because I was so much smaller than everybody else. But yeah. Speaker 1 What do they call you? So you're guiding the the animal around what, Instead of guy? Like, what do they call showman? A showman? Yeah. Speaker 2 Or exhibitor. And so what are they looking for? Like, what are they looking like? What are the things that you have to do to prepare your animal for a show? Speaker 6 So you want. Okay, I'm going to get a little terminology here you want of the top of their back is called their rack and you want their rack to be really big because you eat that. That's like. Speaker 5 Super. Speaker 6 But you also want it like for show. Look, you want it to be flat. Like you don't want it to be like bumpy or like lumpy. You want it to be like flat and clean. You want to look very like clean edge, like a silhouette kind of. And then this sounds a little weird, but you want to have a really big but a rear sexy rear. Speaker 6 You want them to have a lot of muscle there because like, that's leg of lamb, which that's when like the most expensive cuts of a lamb. Speaker 1 So do you like, do you exercise your lamb? Like do. Speaker 6 Those. Speaker 1 Kickbacks with your legs where. Speaker 5 You can grow your booty a little bit similar to squats. And then so. Speaker 6 My first couple of years, we didn't use a treadmill, but then like we kind of got more serious about it and we converted a human treadmill into a lamb treadmill. So you make their front legs stay still and their back legs go backward. It's for we take it for 3 minutes and it builds up that rear muscle. Speaker 5 But does. Speaker 1 Having your back legs go backwards. Speaker 4 Usually on an incline as. Speaker 5 Well, making you can incline, taking notes. I mean, right this cheap Stairmaster can. Okay, I can do that. But yeah. Speaker 6 And then we also have a track and we use track dogs have border collies and they run them. We're on their track, run around the track. And that helps with burning fat and building muscle and like, really making that muscle pop. Speaker 1 Now, is there anything that you can do as a showman to help your animal when like you're you're taking your animal around? And I would think they'd be looking at the animal, but I've also seen where that showman can do certain things. Speaker 6 You know, just to help. Speaker 1 Okay. Yeah. Like smile at him real big and wink at the door and. Speaker 6 You know, smiling in a show. Your face is like, you look at that judge like you're going to kill him. Speaker 5 Like you don't win. Oh, it's going to be bad for you. Oh, that's good to know. Speaker 1 That's a little that's a little secret for all your kids to want to do this. Speaker 6 But yeah, okay. Want like, a really intense face. But there are things so like walking is a huge win. You want your lamb to walk, like, really smooth and you want them to kind of, like, prance a little bit. So I like, take my finger and I put it on their jaw to get their head up. So they walk with their head up and like kind of strut. Speaker 6 And then leg shag is its whole thing. You try to grow the hair on their legs like really big and long just because it like, gives it that silhouette like they're big footed because you want to have like big boned big feet. And so that helps out like Shag helps out a lot. Speaker 1 Could you play like rap music. Speaker 5 While they're walking around? Need to start going, you know? Speaker 1 Oh yeah, you're in the ring with a lot of other animals in. Okay. Yeah. Sorry. I'm just trying to think of ways that you could. It would help you pull off a dub. So in so recently, I'm going to switch gears just a little bit. Recently you told me that you're interested in a podcast. Yeah, starting a podcast, which I was. Speaker 1 We were really excited about bringing you here to kind of show you our podcast stuff and we'll talk about that, you know, afterwards and show you. Kelsey can show you how this works, but so tell me a little bit about your podcasts. Like, what's your idea? What are you thinking? Speaker 6 So like, I went to Ms.. Holtz's Principles of Agriculture class and I learned about like the 2050 dilemma, how like we're going to have a bunch of people on this earth but not enough product to feed them. When I was like, Oh my God, more people need to know about agriculture. Like, we need to educate people about agriculture. Speaker 6 And so I really want to start my podcast about like agriculture, education. And like most people think that FFA, we say it sells cows and plows, but really we're so much more than that. Like we have leadership events helpful for careers or so many scholarships that FFA gives out. But yeah, I want to just make it to where it's like educational. Speaker 6 I think I'm going to call it Seeds of Success. Speaker 5 I like it. Speaker 2 You know, ours is literally just called the podcast, so that's our 71. Speaker 5 Yeah, yeah, Yes. No, you're exactly right. Speaker 1 And you know, that's awesome. So many people we just take for granted the food that we eat. Yeah. And the food that we waste. Yes. And if we were raising our food, having to then and I don't know if y'all use the word kill, but it kill your food so that. What do you use to slaughter? Speaker 5 I don't know which is better, but yes. Speaker 4 Humanely slaughter. Speaker 6 Yes. Humanely slaughtered. I mean. Speaker 1 It's you have to do it right? I mean, we eat, we but if people realize that, I just think that would be a lot less waste. There would be a lot more. Speaker 6 Respect. Speaker 5 For our. Speaker 1 Food. And. Speaker 6 You know, we're like their clothes come from like they don't realize that they're close to agriculture. If you eat, you're involved in agriculture, like agriculture is everywhere and everything. Speaker 1 We need your podcast. That's a great that's a great point because we do have a lot to learn about that for sure. So, okay, Rachel, let me move to you with some questions. And Matty, of course, keep talking if you have some answers, you know, for any of these, but you've been both an FFA enthusiast during your high school years, right? Speaker 1 And now a teacher guiding students. So what motivated you? Like, when did you know? I really want to return to my high school and teach FFA? Speaker 4 To be honest, that was not my life's goal. I always wanted to be a veterinarian and I went to Tarleton State under their pre vet program. So I was supposed to go to Tarleton for two years and then transferred to Texas A&M, and I sat down in my very first animal science class and I was like, I don't want to do that. Speaker 4 Like, why did I think I wanted to do that? And I had a mini life crisis. I was between Wedding Planner and I called Mr. Rifle and he suggested teaching. AG And that was the first time I really considered it. My mom is a teacher, so my whole life I heard you're going to be a teacher just like me. Speaker 4 So I tried to stay away, but I couldn't fight it anymore. And I was like, you know, I still get to work with animals, which is what I wanted to do. But also, like, I think I can help grow this program and, you know, going to school for it. I learned so much more about the FFA and at the time Mr. Rifle was a single teacher department and now we have three and just being able to see how we have had that growth between me being in high school and now it, it really hits home. Speaker 1 Have you done the stats on that? Do you know where that how far the program has come where you started with X amount of students and now you're up to this many students? Speaker 4 Mr. Rifle is our numbers guy. But I do know when he was teaching by himself, I want to say he had maybe 100 or so kids in class. He actually, I think only had three or four classes and the rest of time he was working at the AG barn. And now we have, I think, close to 400 students just in our high classes. Speaker 1 So how is the barn keeping up with that? Is the barn. I know the barn is, you know, it needs to be expanded and all of I know that's a rural need, which I believe we'll need a barn to do that. Yeah. So you have over 400 students, but out of those 200 students, how many are actually raising animals? Speaker 4 So we have about 100 FFA members. And you do have to be in an ad class to be an FFA member. That's national FFA rules. Okay. And out of that, we just had our numbers turned in on Tuesday. But last year we had about 30 lamb and goat projects, probably about 25 or 30 pigs, ten cattle and I think all of our poultry pens were filled. Speaker 4 We have 12 poultry pens. Speaker 1 Wow. I didn't realize it was that. Speaker 2 Yeah, it's crazy. Speaker 1 Yeah, it is crazy. Speaker 2 And how long do the students spend with each animal? Like, over what amount of time? Speaker 4 So it's different for each species and sheep and goats. We typically buy between June and now September. I'm going Saturday to buy more sheep and then we have cattle. Those will typically start in the summertime as well. Pigs usually come in between October, November, turkeys start in December. Chicken starts usually around March. And these are mostly all Galveston County Fair Animals, which is in April. Speaker 4 So their start date through April. Speaker 1 How is the heat affected you guys through this? I guess during the summer you don't have animals? Speaker 4 No, we do. Speaker 1 You do have animals all throughout the summer. How is the heat? Speaker 4 We just keep fans on them and that's the best we can do. Make sure that they have water, make sure they stay in the shade. I mean, they're hot. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 4 And the sheep, we have shaved a couple of times because that will just keeps them really warm. The cattle tend to do fine. They're usually the most hardy, but just making sure they're in the shade during the day and cattle get turned out in the pasture at night when it's cooler. And those fans are probably the most important part. Speaker 1 So we were talking earlier, we kicked off our podcast, talking to you about just our love for your creativity and how bright you are with social media. And by the way, you are a big mouth. Our Communications Big mouth Award winner. Yeah. Speaker 2 Yes, yes, yes. The first and most obvious choice I might. Speaker 5 Have to ask you again. Speaker 1 Cassie and I give awards out just for those teachers that kind of go above and beyond with their communication. And. And you are an award winner. I will. I will say that. How do you encourage creativity and leadership skills among your your students like Mattie to prepare them for success in their ag pursuits? Speaker 4 Yeah. So the first thing is just getting to know the kids and knowing what their interests are. Like Mattie said earlier, everyone associates us with livestock projects and that's probably the biggest thing that our chapter does. But there are other things to do in public speaking. And like I coach the radio team. So if I'm like talking to a student and I can tell, Hey, you kind of have a good radio voice, like why don't you sign up for radio? Speaker 4 Or even this year we have a student that is working with B projects and I've had a couple more come in, say that they're interested in learning about bees. So now we have, you know, a couple of beekeepers at the barn and we have our laying and committee. So it's just finding what their interests are and introducing them to what they can do. Speaker 4 In our program. Speaker 1 I actually had a long conversation the other day with Bruce. Yes. Who's on our maintenance team, and he was talking about that. He's working with the students. It's a girl, I believe, Right. Who's into beekeeping. Speaker 4 Yes, we have Caitlin. And then I've had two freshmen approached me about helping her out, too. Speaker 1 I've always wanted to get involved with beekeeping. It sounds like a it's one of those things that we just don't realize how vital bees are to just to ag, to floor, to flowers, to to the world. Speaker 2 Yeah, the movie was like, I love. Speaker 5 To watch. Speaker 2 Never, ever. But it's so good and so telling of just the way things work. Even we watch. Dana had given this recommendation years ago. It's a documentary called The Biggest Little Farm. If you've seen it, you need to. Speaker 5 Watch it then. Speaker 1 Oh, you have to watch. Speaker 2 The passion appreciation for this. But it goes to there's this couple. The husband was a documentary filmmaker, so just the way that he captures everything. Speaker 1 Has beautiful. Speaker 2 Beautiful. Yeah. But they decided they were going to move out to California and they bought this super arid piece of land that was a rundown had been a farm. Yeah, but super rundown. They couldn't even break the dirt initially, but they were doing like a holistic approach essentially to farming. So it was all natural. And you just see how whenever they introduce like that when they had a beetle infestation and so they introduced ducks and how the ducks take care of that and then the waste from the ducks and how it makes this cycle shows just this cycle and is so awesome. Speaker 2 Love it. You love it. Like only to watch it like today. Speaker 5 Netflix or. Speaker 1 Latest Netflix. Speaker 2 I think so. Speaker 1 If you just sort of say to my husband, if you just take your remote and press that microphone and just say. Speaker 5 Biggest little, the best little fight. It should be. It should. It should pop up. Speaker 1 Okay. Anyone out there listening? If you family have your whole family, watch it. It's it's a beautiful, beautiful, interesting film. Speaker 5 Yes. Speaker 1 So what would you say are some core values that you think still hold true today for the next generation? What do you think kids, adults, everybody would learn from? I keep saying FFA, but everything you do isn't just about FFA, right? It's I mean, I guess it is. Speaker 5 Yeah, it's still FFA. Speaker 4 So and that's kind of our goal for the last few years is to kind of break our stereotype of livestock because like right now we're in our leadership development event season and that's radio broadcasting. We have a contest called Job Interview and they build their resumes. They do a face to face interview, a phone interview. They have to fill out a job application and there's a ton of contests. Speaker 2 So it's so like this incredible life skills. Speaker 1 Every human being. Yes. Speaker 4 And so our mission statement, three important rules, I would say are values, I guess is premier leadership, personal growth and career success. So those are three things that everything that we have an FFA, whether it's a contest, whether it's raising livestock or beekeeping, like those are three essential things that we hope that you leave our program. You've built your leadership skills, You maybe, hopefully have pursued some type of career or, you know, found some kind of liking to a career in agriculture. Speaker 4 And also one premier leadership, personal growth, just growing yourself as an individual, learning new skills and being more confident. Speaker 2 Well, I will say I think it's like a a well-known thing. FFA students have a really good reputation as just being good kids. Good leaders. Yes. So that's very telling too. On how you run your program, how like FFA as an organization runs its program. It's really awesome. Speaker 4 Thank you. Speaker 1 So what's coming up for FFA? What are some big things that you'll have going on happening in your world? I saw something about a family pick. Speaker 4 Family night. Yes. So I think this is our third annual family night. It's something that our officer team a few years ago put together because FFA, there's so many things that you can do and we really hit the ground running like our freshmen are trying to keep up, trying to figure out what they want to do. And so the goal of this is to just introduce different families that are FFA members and just let them kind of communicate and talk and figure out this FFA life together. Speaker 1 Because it's not easy. I can tell you one of the things that I've that's always amazed me about the number of kids that you actually get is when you're raising an animal, you have to be there every day for school, taking care of your animal. That I mean, parents, I want you to think about that for a second. Speaker 1 Think about how crazy it is as parents. So we're trying to just get our kids up and ready for school, but then to have to actually go to a barn and feed your animal before all of that is. That's a lot of responsibility. Yes. Speaker 2 When I even remember, like whenever me was the phrase that we had a few years in, like talking with somebody after of just like again, you don't think about all of those things through instead of just locking up in your house like maybe everybody else is doing. You have to be out there taking care of that animal. You still have to get out every day and go take care of that animal. Speaker 1 It's what do you do in the event of a hurricane? Do you have all the families have to take their animals? Are you hold on to them? Speaker 4 So we do have a policy in our handbook because we only have three trailers, only two of them are able to be used by families. And then we have a couple of goat totes that go in the back of your truck. You could put an animal in. So needless to say, not enough to get every single animal out, right? Speaker 4 So if there was an event, you are more than welcome to evacuate your own animal and you just can't use our stuff in case we need to try to get some animals out. Speaker 1 Okay, Well, hopefully we will not have to worry about that. Speaker 5 I had a baby, so I have been very lucky. But that's just something. Speaker 1 Else, you know, for people to think about that. That's a whole process for FFA, you know, for the barn, if there are a lot of animals there and things that you have to worry about, what else is coming up that you want parents to know? How do you how can people who want to tell do grants with FFA, I mean, with. Speaker 2 Education, money. Speaker 1 Education Foundation. Speaker 4 We are working on it. I actually wrote my first grant last year and it was for I have I teach small animal management, so I have a zoo in my classroom and I wrote a grant for turning my reptile cages into bioactive terrariums and that was picked up. So thank. Speaker 1 You so. Speaker 4 And so. Sometime this semester, reptile tour here in Friendswood is who I partnered with, and they're going to come do a demonstration and teach the kids how it should properly be set up and how to properly care for it. And just talk about, you know, what a bioactive terrarium does. It's all self-sustaining. And, you know, I think that is going to be really great. Speaker 4 So we're working on that was my first one. So we're planning on getting together and writing some more. It just is so time consuming that we're learning how to manage our time to. Speaker 2 Do it right. Yes. Yes. It's so worth it. Right in the end to be able to like it, especially like it gets picked up. So I think a lot of people want to support FFA. And is it Molly Crow wasn't. Yeah, her. Speaker 1 Son. Speaker 2 Her son was in. Speaker 1 Senior is. Speaker 2 Yeah. Is okay I was like I know I feel like she's talks about FFA being close to her heart so. Speaker 5 You know she's president of all under his management and we're very appreciative of her. Speaker 1 Yes I did see recently where you had asked about eggs. Now do you sell the chicken's eggs to the public or is that just kind of within fiesty? Speaker 4 It's really just within FHC really now? FHC We have, I think, like 12 chickens, right now. So we get maybe one or two dozen eggs a week. So it's hard to supply to the community. Our goal though, if we were able to, because we have the bees, we have laying hens and next door to the egg barn, we're working on it. Speaker 4 But our goal is to have a community garden as well where we can provide, you know, different vegetables. And we would love to be a part of the Friendswood farmers market. One day is just having enough supply. Speaker 2 Or demand like marketing me is coming out right now because if you only have one or two dozen eggs a week, you know, it could be really exclusive and you get just that price we have. Okay. And what's true, you think about streams. Speaker 5 Yeah, it is. Speaker 1 Grow a garden would be great. Yes. That's a whole other big endeavor. Speaker 4 We do and it's if you've driven by the barn, you've probably seen it. It's, it was started by Gracie Kempton. She was a Ford leadership scholar, which is one of the scholarships you can get through FFA. And basically with that program, you have to have some type of community service project. And she put it together, she built it, it was ready to go, and then COVID hit. Speaker 4 And so we didn't really get to have a big grand opening for it. And it is being used by some local people I think that live near falling leaf. They've had some successful. Speaker 6 Crops, lot of success. We go out there and they've got like squash and cucumbers and tomatoes. He's got all the stuff growing. Speaker 4 Yes, he does. So we need to recruit him to help us so that we can actually let you know. The rest of friends would know, Hey, it's here. I'd like to have some kind of grand opening for it, so that's awesome. Speaker 1 Yeah, that is awesome. Speaker 5 I love that. Speaker 1 So, okay, I'm just trying to think how else can. Don't can't you purchase, like, after the rodeo? Can't you purchase a hog or a pig or for meat? Yes. And that comes later in the year. Speaker 4 Yes. So at our Galveston County Fair, they have what's called commitment forms. And that individual can give you a form and you fill out, you know, whose pig you want to buy, or you can leave it blank and just put Friendswood, FFA, and, you know, they'll fill it in. And you can buy pigs, turkeys, chickens, rabbits, steers, sheep, goats, all of them. Speaker 4 And so that money goes back to the kid. So that's something that we really try to push when those new forms come out. We post them on our website and on our socials, and so be looking out for those new 2024 commitment forms. Speaker 2 Now this is just maybe a little bit more may, but it's always been a curiosity. Do you get like so attached to the animal and then, you know, know what the ending is going to be? Speaker 6 This sounds really, really heartless, but okay, when I was eight years old and I started, yes, I would ball my eyes out any time one of my animals, you know, went away to the big pasture in the sky. But now I'm just kind of like 71. You were good to me. Speaker 5 But it sounds. Speaker 6 Really bad. You're just like over time, like you start seeing them less as pets, more as livestock products, which, I mean, in the end, it's what they were for. It's what got them on the Earth war. So. But yeah. Speaker 2 Okay. Yeah. I've always wondered that like I'm. Speaker 1 I wouldn't think that would be hard. Speaker 2 Yeah, I'm a feeler. I feel it also. Speaker 5 Like I hope nobody go away. Speaker 1 So one of the things I always like to do is I like to end with some silly questions. So, Rachel, if you don't mind, I'm going to ask Mattie to answer some of these silly questions, and I have to start with her. Would you rather So, Mattie, would you rather milk a cow or shear a sheep? Speaker 5 Oh. Speaker 6 Okay. I have dairy goats, so I know how to like milk something. It takes so long and your hands start cramping. So I'd probably have to say shear sheep. Speaker 5 Okay. Speaker 1 And thinking back about your podcast, who would be your first interview or your dream interview for your podcast? Speaker 6 I know I was talking to Mr. Rifle about it and I was like, Mr. Rifle, you can be the first guest on my podcast. Mr. I'm going to be the first one on. Speaker 1 Okay, that's good. He'd be a good guest. He's funny and he's, you know, yeah, he would be a great I have to tell you, before I ask these last couple of questions, I have to tell a really bad story on myself. But there was one time you all were selling chickens or a couple of times. Speaker 5 Actually, yes. Speaker 1 And I was like, Oh, I want to I want to buy your chickens. And so I said, Yeah, I'll take two chickens. And did we pull it to the high school? Where was it that we came to pick them up? Speaker 4 Yeah. So that was covered when the fair was canceled and all the kids still had their livestock projects. So we sent out an email, I think on Mustang Marketplace and yeah, we handed them out when they were ready and I said yes. Speaker 5 So I. Speaker 1 Went by, I picked up my chickens and literally I did this grab the chickens. Speaker 5 Things. I drove on and. Speaker 1 She Rachel had to text me like the next day she goes, Hey, you didn't pay for your chicken. Speaker 5 Like, Oh my God, Oh God, yeah, that would be good that I actually I just like stealing from students. Yeah. Speaker 1 I know that text is probably an easy one. Like, how do I say this and not embarrass this whack lady. Speaker 5 That just because she just made her mouth more freely? I, you know, luckily, I feel like. Speaker 4 I've known you for. Speaker 5 A while, so. It's okay? Yeah. Yes. Oh, my gosh. Speaker 1 So, Matty, what is one goal that you have for your senior year, year? Like one thing that you're like, I'm going to accomplish this. This year. Speaker 6 So last year we made it to State with radio broadcasting. I was on that team. It was a dream going to state That was the first time friends and FFA had taken anything to state like in the history, the friends of they being chartered. Wow. And it was like such an honor to be able like one of the first of the team of three in a they were like two of my best friends. Speaker 6 So getting to go to State with them and then compete. And then we made it to the finals. So it's like top, what, 24 in the state. Speaker 4 20 or 24. Speaker 6 20 or 24 teams in the state compete. And then you can do your script once it's like a podcast type things like you record your podcast and then the top ten compete again for like top ten of the state. So we ended up making it to finals, which was like I was like, okay, first of all, we just made it to State and then we made the finals. Speaker 6 It was really cool. So my goal this year again is to make it to state nice. Speaker 1 Now do you have banners like do you have banners for that? Speaker 5 Yes. Speaker 1 Like, okay, because I know you have banners, but do you you know, like when you think about in football or something like that, when something big happens, you kind of see things hanging in the barn or do you, like, have something that's like, we're Matty's name could be up there forever. Speaker 2 We're just like a picture of her just. Speaker 5 Hanging out in the barn. Speaker 4 We are trying to figure out how to have a better display. So what they do is they make felt banners. They're like these triangle felt banners. The state one is a big rectangle, and we used to just have them hanging from the ceiling. And then the fire marshal said, We can't do that. So we're looking at making and just. Speaker 1 Can make for that, for that. Speaker 5 Yeah. Okay. Speaker 4 So in our hallway, I don't know if you've seen it, but we have a pretty big blank wall and we're hoping that we can find a trophy case or get a trophy case built that fits within the parameters set. We can actually display that on the hallway. Speaker 2 Oh, good. Speaker 1 Oh, yeah. Okay. Yeah, that's awesome. Speaker 2 And what's the. Okay, what is the things? I know we've honored students for this at board meetings, but is it like the top prize, like Grand Reserve and Marshall? Speaker 5 No. Speaker 2 Grand Reserve. Speaker 4 Reserve champion and. Speaker 2 Reserve grand champion. Okay. Okay. Emily, I know we've honored kids at board meetings for that, but it seems like the way like some of the titles are different. Speaker 4 Right? So how Maddie was explaining earlier how, like, there's different weight classes and so winning your class would be first place. And then if you are a first place or second place winner in your class, then you kind of move on to the next round, if you will. And then they take the first and second place animal for a certain category. Speaker 4 And that's where you select your grand and reserve grand champion. Okay. And so first place in your class, of course, is a great, as she said, got first place out of 70. That is a huge honor. And then just to advance to grand champion Reserve grand champion of your breed or your weight, you know, whatever is just like a higher title. Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 2 Very cool. Speaker 1 Where are the places that you I mean, you mentioned Austin. I know you go to Fort Worth, I know you go to Houston. Are there. Speaker 2 Other than Antonio. Speaker 6 Tonino, San Angelo. Speaker 1 San Angelo. Speaker 6 Texas, that's in is that heart of Texas, Waco? Speaker 4 Yes. And state fairs in Dallas, Those two are in the fall. They're coming up in the next two months. Speaker 1 I have never been to the state fair. Speaker 2 Me either. That's. Oh, you Texas game, right? Speaker 1 Oh, no. Give me line. I don't know about that. Speaker 5 Oh, you Texans game. I don't know. I've no idea. It's livestock and that's why I'm in Dallas. Speaker 2 Because I me is the Red River, isn't it. The Red River or something. John would know. John wants you anyway. Sorry. Yeah. Speaker 1 I've never been is safe here. So you'll. You'll go to the state fair every year. Speaker 4 Not everybody. Yeah, but. Speaker 6 Yeah, usually we'll have. Speaker 4 Really a couple of sheep. I think we have a go going this year. Maybe some cattle. I can't remember. Speaker 1 Have you eaten like fried bacon and fried Oreos? And I've always wanted to try those state fair foods. Speaker 6 Okay, so the state fair food is actually, like, really expensive. Yeah, like, it's, like, pricey, But sometimes you get food there. But most of time we just bring, like, Lunchables, you know, we eat there with our livestock. Speaker 1 Gotcha. Well, I'm actually with a toe to eat or something or something. Speaker 5 You can go to the state. Speaker 1 Fair and not have one of. Speaker 5 Those. And they. Speaker 1 Even serve fried. Speaker 2 Butter. Fried butter? Yeah. Speaker 6 I never tried it, but I've seen that. Speaker 1 That's weird. Speaker 5 Yeah, that. Speaker 1 Was weird, I have to say. Okay, so two more things, Maddie. This is might be upsetting to some parents, but I'm going to say it anyway. Maddie, I think you should bring back senior prankster friends at high school. Speaker 5 100%. Speaker 1 Now. And so tell me, tell us the one that you said yesterday in the senior pranks I'm talking about. Speaker 2 Oh, like destroying property. You know, nothing bad. No, this was great. So this senior, I think, is the senior class above mine. Whenever I was in high school and I went to Auburn school, they hired a mariachi band to follow our principal around for the day. And so every time he would go to speak, they would start playing. Speaker 5 Like that too. Good. Yeah, I would love that. By the way, did you enjoy that, senor? Speaker 1 For that one I just read about that I thought would be funny. Is the seniors put they released pigs into their high school and they numbered them one, two and four. Speaker 5 Oh, my God. They took. Speaker 1 Hours for them to. Speaker 5 Realize there was no three grades, so that oh, I had. Speaker 1 Oh, I can just feel some teachers getting very upset with me right now. But so I always end the podcast with this one question. So, so finish this sentence for me and this will be the end of our podcast. One, I know for sure is. Speaker 6 One thing I know for sure is FFA is the greatest organization in America. Speaker 5 I love it. You know, you're adorable and. Speaker 1 I'm so proud of you and you have so many great things going on. And Rachel, thank you for coming and talking to us today. I really enjoyed hearing all about FFA and all the things that your that FFA has to offer. Speaker 4 Thank you for having us. Speaker 5 This is so cool. I love. Speaker 1 This. You could be here. You'll have a great day and.