From barn to classroom

BERTHA-HEWITT/SEBEKA, Minn. — One family dairy farm binds together the FFA chapters in Bertha-Hewitt and Sebeka. The advisers, Brittani Oyster and Jacob Oyster, are in-laws. The two agriculture education teachers are teaching their own kids in class and helping them train for contests. The family farm is especially important for dairy judging contests which the Oyster cousins look forward to the most.

Ruger, Rekker and Royal Oyster – a sophomore, freshman and seventh grader — are actively involved in the Bertha-Hewitt FFA chapter, with their mom, Brittani, serving as the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser. Their younger sister, Wren, is still waiting to be old enough to join FFA.

About 30 miles north, their eighth-grade cousin, Avery Oyster, is a member of the Sebeka FFA chapter, where her father, Jacob, is the agriculture teacher and FFA adviser. Avery’s younger siblings, Addison, Bree and Nicole, are still waiting their turn to wear the blue jacket.

In addition to teaching, both advisers also have involvement on the farm owned by Robb and Heidi Oyster, who are Jacob’s parents and Brittany’s in-laws. There at the 160-cow dairy farm is also where much of the Oyster grandchildren’s enthusiasm for dairy cattle began.

“Everybody always wants to go to the farm because that’s where all the fun happens,” Brittany said.

Time spent on the farm has helped the Oyster grandchildren’s FFA studies, especially for the Dairy Evaluation Career Development Event, which tests a wide range of dairy skills and knowledge. Brittani’s husband, Joeb, works on the farm, and when Dairy Herd Improvement Association records are out from testing the cows, these are one of the many farm-learning moments for the Oyster kids.

Brittani said the hands-on exposure at the farm to a variety of topics from learning how bull selection works to hearing and seeing dairy industry terminology be used are all helpful for the contest, especially the knowledge test.

“We are a bit competitive, but I think it pushes all of them,” Brittani said. “I try to get my boys to work as hard as Avery (their cousin) when she’s practicing for her contest. … Getting them all together and getting them talking — it’s such a great learning experience for all of them.”

Ruger said he and his brothers often spend time in the agriculture classroom talking about cows, judging cows from videos or walking around their grandparents’ farm to talk more about cows.

Rekker agreed.

“I’m a competitor; I like competing Rekker said. “I try my best as I can at those competitions.”

Royal’s FFA goal is also dairy related.

“(I want to) get gold ranking in dairy judging,” he said.

Along with one additional teammate, the three brothers are already on their way to achieving that goal. The team placed second overall out of 11 teams at a dairy judging competition this fall.

This year marks Avery’s first year competing and participating in FFA activities, one that she said she has been looking forward to for many years. She recently competed in the Creed Speaking Leadership Development Event, earning fifth place out of 12 FFA members.

“I do dairy judging, just like my cousins,” Avery said. “It’s fun to see them at competitions, but it’s also fun because I wanted to be in it for a lot of years.”

While Jacob will not have Avery in class until next semester, he already knows she is a dedicated student, especially when it comes to contests.

“She doesn’t just do it, she prepares for it,” Jacob said.

The pride the Oysters cousins take in the learning opportunities their grandparents’ farm provides keeps them engaged in FFA; and for both parent-teachers, sharing that with their children is meaningful.

“It’s definitely a fun experience that is pretty special, and it’s one of the things that keeps me going,” Brittani said. “When stuff gets challenging, I just remember, I get to spend time with my kids when a lot of times people don’t.”

Neither of the two FFA advisers were expecting to teach agriculture in college. This is Jacob’s 20th year in the classroom, and Brittani’s sixth. Both attended North Dakota State University.

Jacob began studying agribusiness before switching to athletic training to later agriculture education. He had a full-time job lined up in dairy genetics, but during his student teaching experience, a position opened up when a cooperating teacher retired and gave him an opportunity to coach wrestling.

Brittani studied animal science and agricultural business. After taking time to reapply to veterinary school while working at a bank, she became pregnant with Ruger, and spent the next 10 years raising her children and settling into her husband’s community. Eventually, the school administration, aware of her agriculture background, encouraged her to step into an ag teaching role.

For Brittani, watching her children become involved in the chapter has been something she has enjoyed. In a chapter that once had no formal officer team, Ruger now serves as chapter president and Rekker as chapter treasurer.

Among the friendly competitiveness of cousins, the kids enjoy the opportunity to compete, reflect together after contests and have fun strengthening their appreciation for agriculture, the dairy community and FFA.

“FFA (has) developed such great leaders,” said Jacob. “I’ve seen kids grow from not being able to talk to performing the Creed, to becoming regional officers and state officers. I think better than any other organization out there, (it) just does a good job promoting and building leaders and advocates of agriculture.”