For almost a year Sanger High School’s Future Farmers of America have been getting their animals ready for the Fresno Fair.
“The fair has been really stressful due to the fact they’re hauling their animals and cleaning them. Making sure they get to the fair in good condition and good shape,” said Jeremiah Figueroa, 10th grade FFA member. Students have to balance school and FFA responsibilities.
“It’s stressful mainly because you haul your animals to the fair, shave them and when you’re out for a day you have to communicate with the coaches because the week you’re gone can be stressful,’’ said Alessandra Banuelos, 12th grade FFA member. Students have to make their college application, their part time jobs and FFA responsibilities.
“It is fun and very exciting to get your animal and create a bond with them. There’s companionship that you grow with the project by having the short time that you have. It’s devastating having to sell the animal because of the bond you get to create with and the responsibility you get to learn,” said Banuelos. Raising animals takes a lot of time and hard work.
It takes a lot of responsibility and hard work and it’s really time consuming. You don’t have free time. It’s really hard raising it, but it’s good for the responsibility that you get to learn and the skills that you get to use for the next Fresno Fair event, said Figueroa.
Both Banuelos and Figueroa said it’s really difficult and time consuming, and you have to focus on your animal. They have been raising animals and doing FFA since the end of May and sophomore year Jeremiah Figueroa had one boer goat since June and Banuelos had all four broads breasted white turkeys for the same amount of time.
Previously, Banuelos had boer goats and in her first year she showed one turkey at the fair. The large variety of animals were displayed at the fair. The large variety of animals were displayed at the Fresno Fair from October 2nd to the 14th.
