Idalou High School FFA students said support from the community is one of the keys to their continuing success at FFA events and shows. 

“It’s very impressive that Idalou time-and-time again can go into these very competitive shows and FFA events and dominate, so I feel like it’s really awesome that we can do that as a community,” Junior Hadley Chote, 17, said.

Senior Kara Harris, 18, said she’s a fierce advocate for FFA and what it does for the nation.

“Farming is decreasing, and so is [the] meat market.  How are we going to feed our growing population?” Harris said. “That leaves the FFA and students like us to get people’s attention.” 

Freshman Kelsey Collins, 15, said the skills students learn in FFA are going to help them in their future careers.

“It teaches you how to be a hard worker, and it teaches you responsibility, leadership and it helps you get a lot farther in life,” Collins said.
 
All the girls show sheep. Chote recently won supreme overall at show in San Antonio, while Harris took first place in a state speaking contest this summer. Collins snagged the top prize at the state fair. And that’s just a fraction of their accomplishments.
 
Harris will be attending Texas Tech next year to study Ag Communications. Chote and Harris still have to finish high school. All three girls said they are unsure about what they want to do in the future, but they know it will be ag related.
 
They said they’re grateful to their teachers and the community for all of the support.
 
“It’s pretty impressive that such a small town can have great success, but it’s because of the quality of people that’s in our community,” Harris said.