FFA is 'more than just animals'

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Amanda Doubrava has been involved with cattle and horses, but finds her time with her show hogs to be the best. Currently the Skidmore-Tynan FFA'er has eight hogs. -- Staff photo by Carolyn Rost

Feb. 24, 2005 - Amanda Doubrava of the Skidmore-Tynan FFA is the first to tell you that being in FFA is "more than just animals."

In a couple of weeks, high school sophomore Doubrava will be 16, and she is president of the local chapter. This is her fifth year in FFA, and it's obvious by talking with her that she really loves what she's doing.

Although she has been brought up in agriculture ... raising cattle and horses ... pigs are what captured her heart to show. Doubrava said she showed cattle, at first as a member of the 4-H, but just "really got into" showing the pigs. She explained that she has had good luck with the Duroc and Hampshire breeds, so she's planning to stick with them.

At the present time, Doubrava noted she is raising eight pigs, but only shows one, special pig ... and her name is "Love." Last year's pig was named "Valentine," and if she had decided to show a male, this year's show pig would have been "Cupid," laughed Doubrava.

The hardest part of raising animals is the fact that you have to always be responsible for their care and feeding, noted Doubrava. "You can't just decide you're too tired, or something ...," she explained.

The best part for her has been attending all the livestock shows with her friends and all their animals. She, also, enjoys seeing the new baby animals and helping care for them.

Her advice to others thinking about joining FFA is to "just do it." With so many other skills to learn, such as public speaking, responsibility, and being a good student and citizen, Doubrava explained that it "looks good on a resume or application for college, too!"

Her plans for the future include two years at a local community college and then on to Texas A&M to major in "some kind of ag."

Speaking with Doubrava takes us back to a time when all young people said "ma'm" and "sir." The polite, well-spoken leader has obviously been taught good manners from an early age, and is a credit to her parents and to Skidmore-Tynan FFA.