Learning more with each step

Kynlee Greene is a junior at Granbury High School. She is a part of the series of stories the Hood County News is providing readers concerning the journey of Future Farmers of America students during the course of the year.

When FFA student Kynlee Greene enters a room she smiles, makes eye contact and offers a warm handshake. Much more than an organization for showing animals, the FFA believes in the development of the whole person. For many of these students, like Greene, this reinforces the lessons they have learned at home.

Greene’s parents, Todd and Robyn Greene, were involved in FFA themselves while students in Mineral Wells. Todd showed lambs and was involved in chapter conducting. Robyn showed lambs, pigs, steers and heifers. Robyn was president of her local chapter, was involved in chapter conducting, land judging and competed in the Miss FFA competition. Despite her parents involvement, Kynlee — the youngest of the four Greene children — was the first to take an interest in FFA.

Besides FFA, Greene is a varsity cheerleader and participates in National Honor Society, Junior Leadership Granbury and is a Hood County Livestock Raisers Ambassador. In FFA, Greene shows animals and competes in other FFA events including speaking events, Career Development Events (CDEs) and Leadership Development events (LDEs).

“I do LDEs and CDEs, and I do a speaking event. My LDE, I do Ag Advocacy, and then my CDE, I do wool judging, and then my speaking event is over right now. It's over natural resources and this current event that's coming up and could be affecting agriculture,” Greene explained.

“I have always had a passion for animals, I've always wanted to be a vet, always wanted to get into it (FFA),” said Greene.

Greene explains that she would have joined Junior FFA but was not aware it existed until she got to high school. Greene keeps her animals at the Ag barn. Greene struggled to choose which animal she would compete with when she joined FFA. Some students show multiple animals.

“Over the summer before my freshman year, I messaged Ms. Wilson, and I was debating between a sheep and a goat. And I think it ultimately just came down to the pros and cons of both and which one I liked — which one I think looked better. So it came down to the sheep.”

And financing her first animal?

“Luckily, I have really kind parents who would help me with it. They helped me buy my first one. Okay, actually, my first one did not make it too long. The first one I bought passed away not even 24 hours after I got it. But my parents and the breeder were really kind about helping me get the next one,” Greene said.

The funds from the sale of her first sheep were earmarked to purchase future animals and feed. Her parents also help pay for animal feed. Greene hopes to have a surplus at the end of her FFA journey to apply to college.

“A lot of my money that I have now is from my past sales, which I still I try to manage. And now being able to drive, it's kind of complicated, but usually I will buy the feed and my parents will buy if I am completely broke or out of money. They'll help me, but I'll usually have to do, like, some chores or make it up to them another way.”

Greene is showing four sheep this year; she keeps them on the GISD property in the ag (agriculture) barn. Some students keep their animals at their homes, but many — even those with property — keep their animals at the school for convenience.

Greene explains the breeds and their names.

“I have three different breeds. There's this breed called medium wool, which is like a suffix, kind of mix Hampshire, which is a ewe, a female. Her name is Dory. And then I have my other medium wool and his name is, oh, sorry, there's so many …”

Greene takes a breath and pauses and says,

“I decided to go with like, a Disney theme.

“Since she was my first female, I was just like, Dory fits her. I love Dory.”

“And then my other one named after the chicken of ‘Moana,’ because when I first got him, he had some wool on the top of his head, and when he looks at you, he tilts his head. He's a goofy looking lamb. It's perfect, but ‘Hei Hei,’ it fits him.

“And then I have this other breed. It's like a Dorper Dorset mix. And his name's Olaf, because he's all white, big and fluffy. He used to be super sweet.

“And then I have this other one named Reba,” said Greene. Reba was named by her breeder. Some students show animals that are on loan from breeders. Those animals will return to the breeder at the end of the FFA show season.

Many of the animals are sold.

“Yes, um, my two wethers, my two males will be sold for me. One of my females (Reba), I'm just leasing, so she'll go back to her breeder. And the other female (Dory), hopefully I could give her to another breeder. If not, we're going to try to find another home for her,” Greene states.

Greene’s goals for the year will help her in all areas of life.

“I really just want to learn how to manage my time. Coming into my junior year knowing it's going to be a hard year as it already is, I just want to learn how to manage my time and just become a better person.

“And for my animals, I just kind of want to see their potential, grow their potential in them, grow a connection with them, and just like overall, learn with them.”

Greene sums up her FFA experience by mentioning that even when she loses, she wins — because with each step she learns more.