GCISD barn raises interest in agriculture

Grapevine-Colleyville students and teachers involved in FFA and animal science classes are looking forward to an upcoming expansion of the district’s barn behind Grapevine High School.

FFA, an agriculture organization formerly known as Future Farmers of America, provides students with opportunities to raise and show animals while learning leadership skills.

In the next few months, the barn will receive a 7,500 foot addition to provide more space for animal pens and more shade for cattle in an adjacent pasture. In June, trustees approved close to $145,000 from remaining funds in the 2011 bond package to fund the addition.

“This barn was built in the early ‘80s and was state of the art at the time, but now it could use some updates,” said Taylor McGrew, ag science teacher and FFA sponsor.

About 100 students, 80 percent of them in high school and 20 who are junior members, are involved in FFA this fall and more will join in the spring. Most of those kids raise animals at the barn.

The program has about 25 to 30 calves and young cattle, 20 lambs and goats and several pigs. McGrew said they are planning to add close to 20 pigs after the expansion. Right now, pens for the goats and lambs take up about half of the practice show ring.

FFA members Ashton Bisballe and Caroline Girard, both seniors at Grapevine High School, have raised and shown a variety of animals over the last several years. Both plan to major in agriculture-related fields in college.

Junior member Sarah Wells, a fifth-grader at Cannon Elementary School, has raised three pigs and now is preparing her first heifer to show at the Texas State Fair.

“I like having animals and going to all the different shows,” Sarah said.

McGrew said the students learn responsibility because if they don’t feed their animal on a proper schedule, it will show up in the animal’s development. There’s a direct reward for taking care of the animal when it comes time to sell.

They also gain leadership skills and poise while showing animals to judges.

Lorren Hall, an eighth-grader at Heritage Middle School, said there is a lot of teamwork involved in getting ready for shows. She’s raising a European Cross steer.

Lorren says, “You have to have courage to show a cow because it is not easy.”

This story was originally published October 13, 2015 at 12:29 PM with the headline "GCISD barn raises interest in agriculture."