our youth: AG STARS
Elizabeth Ellis
Millsap junior shares
her passion for chickens
and rabbits
BY SCOTLYN OGLE
92
Courtesy photo
M
illsap High School junior Elizabeth Ellis has shown animals
since the seventh grade, getting involved through her dad,
who showed when he was a child. He wanted his girls to experi-
ence what he had experienced, including the fun he had in show-
ing while he was growing up. Following in his footsteps, Eliza-
beth quickly got involved with both FFA and 4H, doing every-
thing from raising animals and showing them to livestock judging.
Now, five years later, she continues to do what she loves.
t only 17, Elizabeth has shown goats, lambs, rabbits,
and pigs. When she was a sophomore, she won Reserve
Grand Champion with her poultry and Grand Champion with her
breeding rabbits. She currently shows all over Texas.
“When we were getting ready to show in Houston and San
Antonio, we had 150 chickens,” said Elizabeth. “Right now, we
have somewhere around 200 rabbits,
since we started our own breed-
ing program.” She works hard daily
to make sure the animals are fed,
watered, groomed and have a clean
place to sleep. The pigs, goats and
lambs also must be walked every
single day.
Elizabeth’s favorite part about
showing is getting to go on road trips
to attend the different shows, and her
favorite memories involve meeting
new people at each of the shows. Last
year she was the FFA Student Advisor
at Millsap, and was promoted to vice-
president for this school year. She has
held many positions through 4H, but
is currently the president in her branch
and hopes to continue to hold posi-
tions throughout the rest of her show-
ing career.
“FFA is my ‘thing,’” said Elizabeth.
“Everyone in high school has their
‘thing’ and this is mine. It is important
to have something you are passion-
ate about.” She believes that spending
time with friends and making memo-
ries that will last forever are impor-
tant, and she feels as though FFA has
helped provide that for her.
Besides showing, Elizabeth is
also heavily involved with her youth
group at her church and participates
in events such as Leadership Train-
ing for Christ. She also has a passion
for photography and is inspired by
local photographers like Jordann
Foland and Jake Felts. In fact, she
takes pictures just about anywhere
she goes and constantly keeps her
social media updated with her newest
photos. “Photography is the way I share my point of view with
the world,” said Elizabeth.
She hopes to attend Lubbock Christian University after high
school and to eventually work for the National Park system.
A