COLONY — Kamryn Luedke, a senior at Crest High School and FFA Chapter president, has learned a lot through FFA.
But what sticks with her the most was learning about Temple Grandin, an animal science professor who fundamentally changed the industry. Grandin, who is autistic, is considered something of a celebrity for those in the agriculture industry as well as for families with special needs.
Her advocacy work has led to significant changes in animal handling, such as more efficient pens that give cattle more water and space to relax. Calmer animals improve safety for workers.
“She understands things from an animal’s perspective. She revolutionized agriculture,” Luedke said. “I like that approach. I try to think about things from my dog or horse’s point of view.”
She’s involved in rodeo, where she competes in a variety of events from pole bending and barrel racing to breakaway roping and team roping.
“There’s a lot of misunderstanding in the horse world. Some people think rodeos are abusive to the animals. They don’t understand how much care, time and money goes into it,” she said.
Luedke hopes to have a career in the equine industry. She plans to be part of the rodeo team in college and study equine science. She’s also considering a career in equine rehabilitation, with a focus on improving animal performance.
In FFA, students are required to complete a supervised agriculture experience (SAE).
Not surprisingly, Luedke’s SAE is focused on equine science. She was required to learn about different parts of the horse and how to care for the animals, including the best types of feed.
Even though her passion is horses, Luedke said she appreciates the many opportunities to learn about other aspects of agriculture.
This year, she learned about dairy judging. She’d never really had any interest in dairy, but found herself fascinated by the process and what it takes to properly judge a dairy cow.
She also enjoyed a section on poultry, which included hatching chicks.
One of her favorite experiences was attending a state conference last year in Manhattan.
“Our chapter is so close and we had so many new experiences that brought us even closer together,” she said. “I really had fun.”
She wasn’t able to attend the national FFA convention but a handful of her classmates went.
