When James Tripp was in the eighth grade, he made the decision to join the FFA thanks to some encouragement from his family. Now a senior at Blackwell High School, Tripp said he has enjoyed everything about FFA.

“I’ve grown up on our family farm and both my parents were in the FFA so as soon as I could I joined the FFA,” said Tripp. “My favorite thing that I do in the FFA is showing my show cattle.”

Tripp also serves as an officer with his chapter, while still showing livestock.

“I am our chapter treasurer and I show cattle and am on the shooting team,” said Tripp. “I show cattle, red angus heifers and bulls.”

Tripp said his father has been a big influence in his life and is someone he looks up to.

“My father has been a huge influence not only in the FFA but also in football he helped coach me from kindergarten through sixth grade and he is the main reason I began showing cattle in the FFA,” said Tripp.

As a member of the football team, Tripp said he loves playing football with this group of guys.

“I love football so much because you become so close with your team and if you work hard all week in practice it all pays off on Friday night. I have played basketball in the past, but I am unsure if I will play this year or not,” said Tripp.

Tripp offers some advice for anyone curious about FFA and what the organization is all about.

“You don’t have to be a farmer to be in the FFA and there is a lot you can learn in the FFA that you can’t quite learn in any other class in school,” said Tripp. After he graduates from Blackwell High School, he plans on attending Oklahoma State University and major in the field of agriculture.