Whitcomb FFA now offering livestock projects in town

FFA advisor and MHS agricultural teacher Hugh Jenkins has been soliciting the Moorcroft Town Council for a variance to the ordinance regarding livestock in town and the body has responded favorably.

At the meeting last Monday, the council heard again Jenkins' case, "I've got some town kids who really would benefit from having [fair] livestock projects."

"My hope," said Jenkins later, "is to have a place for my town kids to raise animal projects; they can bring them here." He commended the town for their support of this step for the local FFA.

The council approved allowing the Whitcomb chapter of the FFA to have livestock in town limits. They made clear, though, that this variance is only for active FFA members on school ground and not for "back yard" livestock in town.

Jenkins' FFA class already has two black-faced yearling sheep housed at the school and Jenkins hopes to see "hogs, show steers and maybe a couple of chickens; whatever the kids want to raise." He assures town residents that he is on site every day during school and will watch over the wellbeing of the livestock. "If these guys got sick, I have access to medicine and can vaccinate them here," he says.

The animals will be kept on site until fair, which is held the third week in July and school is over for the year in May; Jenkins said that the FFA students are responsible for the daily feeding, cleaning and overall care of the livestock during that time.

Jenkins has plans to ask the school board for a barn in the future, “We’re just not at that point yet, [but] I’m just glad that the program’s moving forward and we have critters here; it’s kind of fun to see town kids with lambs.”

Moorcroft is following Hulett with their livestock facilities on school grounds and Sundance that utilizes the county fairgrounds.