Senior Kayla Becker has been a member of Greeley West’s FFA chapter for the last three years. Each year, Becker has “shown” in the Weld, Boulder, and Colorado State Fairs. Becker refused to let COVID 19 make an exception to that this year.

Since quarantine started in March, Becker moved permanently to her farm in Longmont to begin preparation for the busy summer ahead. “Mornings started at 5 a.m. with treadmilling the sheep, followed by feeding the goats, sheep, and pigs,” Becker said.

This was only the first two hours of her day. After that the day is filled with leg grooming, working the goats, washing the pigs, and finishing off the night with supper. “To be clear I don’t eat until the animals are fed and happy,” Becker said.

Becker has shown for the past 14 years because she loves the animals and the competitive spirit of the industry. Her passion shows through the turnout from the shows this summer. 

The state fair looked different this year. Typically, 38 animals from each species make sale.  This year only 23 made sale. At the Colorado State Fair, “everyone maintained a distance of 6 feet at all times,” Becker said.

Up until the day of the show, Becker said that no one was certain if it would actually happen. Becker was the only Spartan representing large livestock at state fair this year, and got 2nd with her goat Tex in her class.

Becker said that the atmosphere was tense, more so than previous years. The extra layer of stress that COVID created caused uncertainty and worry, for her health and the health of others. However, she said that through these uncertain times she still has the consistent support from her Spartan chapter and the agricultural industry as a whole.