FFA Member Profile: Kayla Schweer, sentinel

Tell us about your farm and family. The prefix of my family farm is Don-Mil-Dale Holsteins. We proudly milk 40 registered Holstein cows and raise replacement heifers and cows we sell. My grandfather, Donald Schweer, and my grandmother, Mildred Schweer, founded our dairy farm in 1961 after my grandfather finished serving in the Navy for four years. They started off with 17 cows until an addition was built onto the barn in 1976, allowing 40 cows to be tied up over the years. We currently own 240 acres of land where we plant corn, soybeans, alfalfa and wheat. In 1982, my farm was the first in Grant County to successfully complete an embryo transfer from a cow, which resulted in five calves. My parents are Richard and Michelle Schweer. I have two siblings, Kendra and Kaden.

Why did you join FFA? For years, it’s been a tradition for my family to be involved in FFA, which greatly impacted my decision. From older students in FFA and my family, I learned that this organization offered a variety of opportunities and skills. I mainly joined to increase my skills in public speaking, leadership, teamwork and other skills that would benefit my future. Coming from a farming background, I have been active in the industry but saw FFA as a way to become more involved in the future of agriculture.

What is your role in the chapter? As the sentinel, my duty is to assist the president in maintaining order, keep the meeting room and paraphernalia in proper condition, welcome guests and visitors, and keep the meeting room comfortable. As a chapter officer, I bring up new ideas for our chapter to do.

What FFA contests do you compete in? In the past, I have participated in the dairy cattle evaluation and management and chapter conduct of meeting contests. As of right now, I compete in the veterinary science and employment skills contests. In 2023, I competed at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis for dairy cattle evaluation and management, where my team received a silver medal. Along with that, I competed in the FFA contest at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. For the next few years, I hope to try more contests.

What do you look forward to most in the upcoming FFA year? In the upcoming FFA year, I look forward to competing. During my competitions, I have a chance to learn more about that area and gain more knowledge, which I enjoy. Not only that, but I meet new people at almost every contest I attend. I love getting to know people more who have the same hobbies as me. I’m very grateful my chapter is able to attend multiple contests for this. Additionally, I look forward to all of the community service opportunities my town has to offer, allowing more projects to be completed. I enjoy giving back to the community that helps out a lot with my chapter. I believe that we are lucky to have very active alumni and volunteers who are willing to step up and help support the future of agriculture.

How has FFA shaped you as a person? FFA has shaped me as a person in various ways. This organization has taught me more than agricultural knowledge; it has impacted my personal development. It has made me proficient in my leadership, teamwork and public speaking skills. Additionally, it has given me more career options and experience in different areas. FFA has affected me in the long-term and will help me throughout my entire life.

What are your duties on the farm? My duties in the morning on weekends or no-school days consist of feeding bottle calves, heifers and cows. I either run the skid steer or the tractor with the total mixed ration mixer. I normally watch gates if someone else is running the equipment. Next, my evening duties include feeding bottle calves once again and making sure they have water and clean bedding. Occasionally, I help my parents with milking if I am not working or do not have extracurricular activities. After milking, I wash milkers, push feed up again and fluff the bedding for the cows again to make sure they are comfortable for the night. During the summer, I drive hay racks around the fields when we pick up bales. Lastly, I help fill our loft with straw. Overall, I mainly ensure the cattle are in a clean space with the stuff they need and are comfortable. I make sure my parents are well taken care of, and I try to help as much as I can with anything.

What are your future plans? After high school, I currently plan on attending South Dakota State University for animal science. Afterward, I will further my education in my desired field. Right now, I have shown interest in genetics and the veterinary field. My parents have played a huge role in my interest in genetics for numerous years, as we breed for type cows and certain characteristics. As my dad says, “I like to milk pretty cows.” When we have veterinarians out at the farm, I enjoy learning from them and what they do. Working at my local veterinary clinic has taught me a lot and has exposed me to the environment. Additionally, I have a huge heart for animals and want to help them as much as I can. Overall, I plan on going into a field for something that I can bring back to our farm and put more work into it to make it even greater.