Friends enjoy competition in Austin County

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Cutline: Seniors Erin Orcutt, left, and Majorie Sparks paused to cite the positive aspects of showing livestock. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

April 8, 2004 -- The first time Marjorie Sparks, a senior at Bowie High School in Austin, competed with her Boer goat in the Travis County Livestock Show about 10 years ago, she said there were only about 75 goats. That number has grown to over 400 in competition at the Star of Texas Livestock Show and Rodeo held, recently, in Travis County.

A member of 4-H for the last 10 years, Marjorie has been a part of FFA all four years of high school. Her Friend, Erin Orcutt, also a senior, changed high schools in Austin in order to be able to be a part of FFA and show her goat.

Both young women plan to go to college, with Marjorie heading to Sam Houston State University to study criminal justice, and Erin attending Texas A&M University to study animal science.

Marjorie said she got into showing Boer goats because they were smaller animals, and she enjoys working with them. Erin said working with her goats has helped with other relationships. Both feel working with animals teaches responsibility and patience, and believe "young kids in gangs or in trouble" could benefit by owning and showing animals.

"It would give them something to do and someone to take care of," offered Erin.

Like many FFA groups in Texas, it seems Bowie High School has more girls in its club than guys. Both Marjorie and Erin said they believe it's because females are more "into being caregivers" when it comes to the portion of FFA involvement that includes raising a livestock project.

Marjorie spoke about how some people don't really understand goats; she's had a goat that could open gates and pen the young lambs, just to keep them out of the way! Too, she said that "goats really don't eat everything!"

While we talked with the Bowie seniors the day before the Star of Texas competitions, each of them was already dreading the part they hate most about raising meat goats ... having to let them go at the end of the competitions. Each agreed there would be tears, but said it was worth the experience.