RLT FFA student, Morgan Guerrero, won Best of Breed for her black Polish rabbit at the State Fair of Texas in 2018. Guerrero is a sophomore in R. L. Turner High School’s FFA (Future Farmers of America) program. Guerrero’s rabbit, Bowie, is approximately 8 years old and has been a winning entry at stock shows for most of his life. Guerrero works with Bowie 3-5 hours per week. This time ensures that he is properly groomed and accustomed to being positioned and posed by judges when at competition.
Standards of Perfection
When rabbits are on the show table, judges are looking for standards of perfection in the breed as established by American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). These standards include body mass, condition of nails, condition of pelt, and placement of eyes and ears. A rabbit can be disqualified for having a broken toenail or for biting a judge.
CFB & FFA
CFBISD has its own barn, known as the Agriculture Project Center. Guerrero has another rabbit named Edwards, and they both reside at the barn with other students’ animals. Students in the program visit the barn daily to feed, water, and care for their animals. Guerrero raised a market goat in 2017-2018 and is currently raising a Simmental Breeding Beef Heifer. Additionally, she is a member of the Livestock Judging Team. Students in the district can become a Junior FFA member starting in the 3rd grade and 9 years of age. Junior members can take part in activities at the local level and raise approved livestock animals to show at the selected shows. To become a FFA member, students must be in the 9th grade and take an agricultural science course (1 per school year) and pay a modest annual fee.
Stepping Stone to Future Career
Guerrero is currently planning on being a Veterinary Technician. She plans to intern at a veterinary office in the 2019-2020 school year.
