News Briefs

Recently, a question circulating on Facebook was this: If you could, would you go back and relive your high school years? My immediate response was “no way,” but now, it might not be a bad idea after thinking about it. If you continued to repeat high school over and over again, you would never have to think about what you were going to do when you graduated. When our 17-year-old granddaugh ter, a senior, visited at Christmas, much discussion revolved around her plans for after graduation on May 7, 2022. The date also happens to be her 18th birthday. When she left here on New Year’s Day, she had decided on moving in with her great-grandmother, free of board, enrolling in Southeastern Louisiana University, and pursuing a degree in psychology. Less than two weeks later, I received a text which read: “I am debating if I want to take a year off or not. Maybe I need to grow up some; I mean, like travel across the country a little bit.” Wait, Haley, what??

FFA and 4H members from throughout Gaines County will be hoping to secure a ribbon or title in the area’s yearly stock show this month. They have worked endlessly grooming and training their animals, under the guidance of their club sponsors, and are now ready to put their projects to the test. There is much known about the exhibitors, sponsors, and even the breeds of animals. Few, however, know the history of the two major organizations that make it possible for students interested in livestock to compete at this level.