ARLINGTON — The Arlington High School Future Farmers of America have been keeping busy this summer, placing well at both the Skagit and Evergreen state fairs.
At Skagit, Aug. 5-7, AHS FFA senior Kalynn Morcom won overall showmanship in dairy and beef, sophomore Cayley Allen won fourth in both type and fitting and showing, sophomore Toria Morcom won reserve in fitting and showing and champion feeder steer, and sophomore Whitney Holden won champion fitting and showing. Shana Morcum won champion red angus female.
At the Evergreen State Fair, Aug. 21-24, AHS FFA senior Aaron Bosley won reserve novice showmanship in beef, while Kalynn won senior champion overall, fitting and showing champion and reserve market steer. Allen won third in junior fitting and showing and champion in market steer, and Toria won champion junior fitting and showing, overall reserve grand champion fitting and showing, outstanding exhibitor in beef, supreme female overall and champion feeder steer. As for Holden, she won reserve fitting and showing junior champion and champion black angus heifer.
Additional Evergreen State Fair wins for AHS FFA included James Donegan’s reserve senior champion showmanship in dairy and James Bosley’s “all blues” in metalworking, as well as MacKenzie Bergam’s all blues in equitation and novice champion fitting and showing in horses.
“All of these kids come from farms,” said AHS FFA mother Mary Morcom. “They all have opinions of their own on how to breed, feed and show the animals.”
Kalynn described the group’s August wins as the result of daily hard work that began at the start of the year, but agreed with Holden that the extra hours were worth it.
When asked about their plans for the future, Aaron is looking to go into cattle, while Kalynn is interested in both the beef industry and veterinary medicine. Allen would like to continue her show work, citing her love of competition, while Toria sees showing more as a side job, which she hopes to balance with business management. Toria and Holden agreed that FFA has furnished them with educational opportunities and life lessons, which Kalynn and Mary Morcom asked schools and communities across the state to support.
“We need that support to continue on,” said Mary Morcom.
