Back row, from left to right: Margaret Alford (12), Adilene Hoffman (10), Izaak Sharp (11), Ian Van Winkle (12) and Tyler Milami (10). Front row, from left to right: Viviana Velazquez (11), Faith Escoto (11), Ms. Shannon (small animal advisor), Richie Boyk (11) and Hailey Heer (10).
In 2022, Viviana Velazquez was the only FFA member to show a small animal at the Nevada County Fair.
“I raised chickens because it was what I could afford,” says Velazquez, a Bear River FFA member. “Regardless of being in a chapter that specialized in large livestock, I made it my [Supervised Agricultural Experience] SAE project, dedicating my time daily and working hard. I was terrified with no prior experience, competing next to kids around half my age from 4-H.”
Velazquez’s SAE was a success, as she not only raised two healthy hens, but also won first place in novice showmanship. This success was shared throughout the local chapters, encouraging other members to try something new. Even Nevada Union FFA, the neighboring chapter, got into the action.
Viviana Velazquez in the auction ring.
Every student worked hard on their SAE of raising their small animals. From broilers to turkeys and even rabbits, FFA started to show up — surprising many when fair week came along.
“It’s exciting to see so many FFA members showing such high-quality poultry projects at the Nevada County Fair,” says Amy Spithorse, the 2024 poultry judge.
Apart from the poultry judge, the Bear River FFA advisors were also impressed by the results. Brianne Shannon, a new teacher at Bear River, is passionate about small animals.
“This was my first year teaching at Bear River and while I had so many highlights this year, what made it the best was getting to see so many of my students participate in fur and feathers,” Shannon said. “My goal was to leave a mark at the fair, and I can confidently say we did that. It made my teacher heart very happy.”
Shannon grew up in southern California, where small animals were her only avenue to show at fair. To ensure she could offer this same opportunity at Bear River, she built a coop at the school and personally mentored students with no prior experience.
What was once a one-student SAE has since become one of the most collaborative agriculture projects for Bear River FFA. This project led to huge success, as every member who raised a small animal for the Nevada County Fair took home an award. However, they did not expect to place so highly. Richie Boyk, one of Shannon’s students, never expected to be the reserve champion for market broilers.
Richie Boyk in the auction ring.
“Long story short, my FFA advisor randomly asked me one day if I wanted to do chickens,” Boyk says. “I said yes, not knowing what was to come.”
After raising his broilers at the school coop and getting to experience fair through the lens of an exhibitor, Boyk said, “I will 100 and be doing it again.”
Bear River FFA continues to do its best to branch out, diversify and give opportunities to its students. Thanks to all of these new SAEs, students were able to bridge the gap between the animal world, unifying large livestock with fur and feathers.
What an inspiring story! How cool that one person was able to instill such a movement.