Q&A: FFA takes the Rodeo

The following interview discusses the FFA club’s involvement in the Rodeo starting Mar. 2.

Bobby Bonilla (BB) – President of FFA Club

Kassandra Toledo (KT) – Reporter

What are you looking forward to most about Rodeo Houston?

BB: I’m looking forward to watching the calf scrambles and the cook-offs. This is my first year going to the cook-off, so I’m excited to try everything.

KT: I’m looking forward to the Livestock Show since my brother, junior Dante Toledo, will be showing his steer. I’m also looking forward to the carnival.

Are you showing anything this year?

BB: I’m not showing anything this year.

KT: I’m not showing anything either, but I did show last week at the San Antonio Rodeo.

How was your experience at the San Antonio Rodeo?

KT: We checked in our animals on Monday, and I fed my animal on Tuesday. I was with my animal all day on Wednesday to get him ready to show. I washed him, walked him around and fed him. When it was time for the show, I made sure he was clean, and I walked him to the arena. I checked him in, and the officials wiped him down to make sure he didn’t have a shine on him. They classified him, and he passed as an Angus. I then walked into the ring and showed him. I wasn’t nervous at the beginning, but at check in, I got really nervous. I was very confident with my work, and I was happy and proud to walk him around the ring and show him to the judges.

What was your favorite part about Rodeo Houston last year?

BB: I really liked how organized the show was and how friendly everyone was. Normally when you go to shows, everyone is really frantic, and nobody can help you out. At the Houston Rodeo, it’s the complete opposite.

What has changed in Bellaire FFA from the rodeo last year to the rodeo this year?

BB: In terms of FFA, we have a lot more members, so we have a lot more people participating in the rodeo this year. We have a lot more people showing cattle this year. We have a good dozen doing the Calf Scramble, and we have another dozen members showing animals at the Livestock Show.

How many animals have you had throughout your time in FFA?

BB: I’ve had four animals in total.

KT: I’ve had two animals.

Do you think all of the animals are ready for the Livestock Show?

KT: I think all of the members have been taking care of their animals properly. I think they’ve done well enough to place well at the shows. Everyone is really excited to show their animals and show their projects.

What is your favorite part about being in FFA?

KT: I like having a cow. I like being able to participate in something else outside of school that takes up a lot of time and teaches me about leadership and responsibility. My favorite thing is always being able to learn new things. When I go out to the barn and do new activities, I always learn something new.

What’s been the biggest thing you’ve learned in FFA?

BB: The biggest thing I’ve learned is how to take care of an animal that’s not a household pet like a dog or cat. I’ve also learned how to act around larger animals like cattle. Overall, general animal management is the biggest thing I’ve learned.

KT: The biggest thing I’ve learned is animal science and how to take care of my animal.

What is something most people don’t know about FFA that you would want to tell them?

BB: FFA is not just all about animals. It’s a big misconception that you need to have an animal or know a lot about animals to be in FFA. We have a lot of other things in FFA besides raising animals. We have visual arts competitions, cooking competitions, and speech competitions. I feel like letting people know that will make them feel like they can easily join FFA even if they don’t know that much about raising animals. I didn’t know anything about animals when I joined three years ago. I thought it was all about raising animals, but over the years, I’ve learned FFA is a lot more than that.

KT: I agree with Bobby. People don’t realize that it’s not all animal related until they actually get into the club. I didn’t know anything about livestock, but I loved dogs. One day, I took an agriculture class and realized everything they were doing. I joined and didn’t get an animal, but we do a lot of things that aren’t related to raising animals or farming.