Mansfield FFA members go to the show

By Amanda Rogers

Mansfield Record

Ten-year-old Kylie Peery spent her summers hosing down her lambs, every day after school feeding and working with them, and now she’s reaping the rewards.

Kylie, a fourth-grader at Tarver-Rendon Elementary School, is at the Fort Worth Stock Show, showing off her lambs, Strawberry and Marshmallow.

“She got her sheep in June, and got them out three times a day to hose them down,” explained Miranda Brown, an agri science teacher at Ben Barber Innovation Academy, Mansfield FFA’s sheep, goat and swine advisor and Kylie’s aunt. “Texas summers are hot, and the sheep are uncomfortable.

“If it’s cold outside, we still go outside and feed them, exercise them and practice with them,” Brown said.

Kylie has been showing animals since she could walk, said her mom, Lauren Peery, and her aunt, who showed goats when they were in high school at Legacy High and Mansfield High.

Kylie started out showing goats, horses and chickens, just like her family.

“The sheep are just hers,” Brown said. “She was with some of my high school kids and started to show an interest.”

Strawberry, a Southdown lamb, and Marshmallow, a wether lamb, are two of the dozens of animals that Mansfield FFA members will show at the Fort Worth Stock Show this year.

The 700-member Mansfield FFA group consists of members from third through 12th grade, Brown said. Members show cattle, horses, sheep, pigs, plants and have leadership opportunities, she explained.

“That’s why I like FFA, the vast number of opportunities,” Brown said.

Lauren Peery likes seeing how her daughter has grown by participating in FFA.

“Kids are learning respect, all the hard work, the adversity, speaking skills,” she said. “It goes beyond just showing. Kids can find their place.”

And hanging out at the shows is fun, too, Brown admits.

“(The kids) have a blast,” she said. “They are required to check in with me. We have unofficial practices. They get to go to the exhibit hall, see other kids show, walk around with their friends.”