Anderson-Shiro FFA has great spring

ANDERSON - The spring semester has taken its toll on the Anderson-Shiro FFA program. It has brought its own share of hardships, aside from COVID-19, but the students have pushed through despite the odds - and had a successful spring semester.

Things looked slightly different at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo in February. Anderson-Shiro had several students exhibit their animals and earn a spot in the premium sale. Landon Stem took first in his class and was later named Reserve Champion Santa Gertrudis Calf. Coy Alexander finished fourth in his class earning his goat a spot in the premium sale. Rance Imhoff competed in several youth rodeo events earning a trip to the short-go in tiedown roping earning a check.

The Owls returned to the green shavings of Reliant Stadium for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo after COVID-19 abruptly cancelled the event in 2020. Stem earned first-place again with his Santa Gertrudis heifer. Landon Jarvis placed seventh in his class with his Chester White Market Barrow earning his way to the premium sale. Alexander also finished seventh in his class with his goat and Tyler Martin placed eleventh with his lamb. Both made it to the premium sale. The horse judging team placed tenth overall with Maryn Lara earning the eighth highest individual score out of 217 contestants. The livestock team was nineteenth overall.

Rodeo Austin wrappedup the spring show season with the Owls finishing as strong as they began. Stem continued with another first-place win in class with his Santa Gertrudis Heifer. Alexander improved earning a second-place finish with his goat. Brooklyn Byars-Crosby finished fourth in class with her goat. They both made it to the premium sale.

At the Area contest two FFA teams advanced to state and the third team was two spots from advancing. The horse Judging team consisting of Maryn Lara, Zane Moriarty, Chistopher Lewis, and Tucker Backhus placed fourth at Area and seventh at the state contest. The homesite team, consisting of Abby Ross, Brooklyn Byars-Cosby, Delaney Pavelock and Hannah Abraham, won the Area contest and also ended up seventh at the state contest.

Anderson-Shiro’s Livestock Judging team consisting of Kyndal Bohnert, Kynlee Stephens, Tyler Martin and Brooklyn Byars just missed advancing to state when they came in eighth place at Area.

In April Hannah Abraham was elected as the Black District President and will serve the District for the upcoming school year. Haden Sechelski advanced to phase two of the Area Officer Elections.

Anderson-Shiro has five of the 25 State Qualifying Texas FFA Scholarship Candidates including Abby Ross, Maryn Lara, Zane Moriarty, Delaney Pavelock and Alexia Ngov. Sixteen counties with 70 high schools from 1A-6A make up the Anderson-Shiro area. Those schools have an opportunity to submit as many scholarship applications as they choose and only the elite advance, so Anderson-Shiro having five advancing spots is a phenomenal feat.