My fondest memories come from times spent in the barn working livestock with my family. We crave the long miles on the road traveling from show to show in the summer. Additionally, the long nights spent fitting sheep and the accompanying camaraderie for every show is something we look forward to.

From the moment I was born, my parents pushed me around in the stroller at every major sheep show in the nation. I’ve shown purebred breeding sheep since the age of 5 at the county, state and national levels. My family and I currently raise and show Dorset, natural colored, Tunis and Columbia sheep. Also, my sisters and I like to run a few Hampshire and Shropshire sheep on the show string.

While we always look forward to shows, the industry is so much more than that. In fact, being raised in this industry has played a large role in who I am today. Showing sheep has provided me with numerous experiences and leadership opportunities. Here’s a closer look:

Travel. My years showing sheep have allowed me to travel to new places. My family and I joke about how we’ve never taken a family vacation without the truck and trailer. That’s because sheep shows are our vacations.

From a young age, I’ve been exposed to various environments and dynamics in which people interact. These experiences have shown me there is more to life than our small hometown.

Leadership. The leadership opportunities offered through the sheep industry are extremely valuable. I’ve served on multiple junior boards, which have allowed me to give back to specific breed associations and grow as a leader. This is only one of the ways showing sheep allows juniors to gain leadership skills.

Many breed associations have a queen program. Through this experience, you advocate for your breed and the sheep industry. This was one of my favorite experiences during my years of being a junior showman. In 2018 and 2019, I served as the National Tunis Queen, where I was able to travel the country attending breed shows and advocating.

Friendships. The sheep industry has provided me with countless friendships. Friends turn into family, and it’s where you feel like you belong. No matter where you go, you can always count on someone being there for you. I’m beyond thankful for my sheep “family,” and I’d be lost without them.

The livestock industry offers an array of opportunities to young people; yet, the sheep industry holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my passion for agriculture started. On top of that, it continues to offer leadership opportunities to young adults and adults in many different forms.

I encourage you to seek out the opportunities that are available. There are countless individuals who want to help junior members grow up to be successful. I’ll forever be grateful for my time spent raising and showing purebred show sheep.

Schakel is the 2020-21 Indiana FFA secretary.