FFA student receives $1,000 grant

RED BAY — FFA student Cayson Johnston has received a $1,000 grant for his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).

FFA advisor Jarod Massey said Johnston filled out a “pretty lengthy application.”

“He does beef cattle production,” Massey said.

Massey said for a SAE, a student keeps records of his or her ag-related experiences outside of class.

“Cayson buys calves at a small weight and brings them back to his pasture and feeds them and gives them anything they need to put weight on them, and then he turns around and takes them back to the sale barn once he gets them up to 600 to 700 pounds,” Massey explained.

Johnston, a junior at Red Bay Hight, is free to use the $1,000 however he wants to. Massey said he chose to reinvest in his cattle operation, adding he has plans to apply for another grant next year.

“Cayson is currently our chapter treasurer,” Massey said, “and he’s going to be running for an office next year. He’s been involved in FFA since he was in eighth grade.”

Johnston said several people in the district applied for the grant, and he was one of three to receive it.

“I try to buy calves in groups – they’ll usually weigh around 300 pounds – and I’ll feed them and do things to add value to them and take them back usually about three or four months later,” Johnston explained.

He said he would use the grant money to pay for vaccinations and to feed his cattle.

“It keeps me busy,” Johnston said of his cattle operation, “but it’s a lot of fun. My grandpa and dad have done this, too, so I’ve always been around calves and cows and stuff like that.”

It’s not just money or family tradition that keeps him motivated to continue, though.

“It’s rewarding,” Johnston said. “When you get it done, it feels like you’ve done a big thing, but it’s also been super profitable for me.”

Jonston said along with the grant he also won a proficiency award.

“It sort of ranks you in the state, saying who’s the best overall, and my proficiency was in beef production,” Johnston added. “I haven’t been placed specifically, but I do know that I’m in the top four of beef producers in the state at the high school level.”

His future goals include staying in the cattle business. He also hopes to get a degree related to agriculture, probably from Auburn or Mississippi State.

“Agribusiness looks kind of promising,” Johnston said, “because I hope to buy land and put cows on it and also work with chicken houses.”