Broilers – Mallory Fitzgerald – Hardin Jr FFA

Lot 5

Broilers - Mallory Fitzgerald - Hardin Jr FFA

Broilers - Mallory Fitzgerald
Hardin Jr FFA

My name is Mallory Fitzgerald and I am in the 6th grade at Hardin ISD. I'm a member of both Hardin 4H and Hardin JR. FFA. I have a goal to attend the University of Texas A & M to become a veterinarian. All the money I have earned showing has been put away in savings for my college education.

his is only my second year to raise broilers for Cleveland Dairy Days. Last year I won Grand Champion with a meat pen of 3 birds that weighed in at 35.13 lbs. My largest bird was 12.13lbs, which could easily feed a family of 10-12. This year my birds are on the same track, while they still have a few weeks left of growing, I know they will be similar in size and shape. I raise my birds in what's called a family pen with my younger brother. Together we work very hard to maintain a clean and dry pen for the birds. Since we order 75 birds and process them all at once we separate the broilers into two separate pens, a cull pen and a show pen. This helps a bit with keeping the litter clean but requires extra work. It is also important that the birds have fresh feed and clean fresh water at all times and that requires us to feed and water 2-3 times a day. It's a lot of work but it is worth it in the end.

Although I'm disappointed I won't be able to show this year and defend my title, I am grateful for the lessons I've learned through this experience. The biggest lesson I've learned is that a family farm is more than a business, if you're showing your animals, its more than buckles and banners the family farm is a way of life and sometimes in life and farming even though you work hard it doesn't always mean you'll get the reward you want. I know the family farm is a reward in itself, because in the end, what really matters is the time spent together putting in the extra work despite the outcome.