Princeton FFA shines at Collin County junior livestock show

Princeton FFA turned in a strong performance at the Collin County Junior Livestock Show at Myers Park, where 28 students entered projects across livestock, agricultural mechanics and floral categories. The turnout highlighted the chapter’s depth of participation and the county show’s role as a focal point for agricultural education in north Collin County communities.

The event on Jan. 13 drew teams and families from across the county to the show ring and exhibition barns, giving students hands-on experience in animal care, fabrication and horticulture. For many exhibitors the show serves not only as a competitive venue but also as a practical classroom: students learn record keeping, budgeting, public presentation and the logistical work that accompanies moving animals and equipment to a busy show environment.

Local investment in these programs was visible in the turnout and organization. County-level events such as the Collin County Junior Livestock Show provide a pipeline for FFA leadership development and community engagement, offering scholarship and career-building opportunities that extend beyond the school day. For Princeton Independent School District, sustaining a robust agriculture program hinges on staffing ag teachers, maintaining equipment and securing opportunities for students to exhibit and market their work.

The demonstration of wide student participation speaks to broader policy implications for Collin County and local school boards. Agricultural programs require stable funding and facilities to remain viable as enrollment grows in suburban and rural pockets of the county. Maintaining Myers Park and similar venues depends on coordinated support from district administrators, county officials and community donors who back youth agriculture as both an educational priority and an economic asset.

For residents, the show offered a moment to connect with local food systems and youth development. Students participating in ag mechanics projects are building skills directly applicable to trades in the county’s construction and manufacturing sectors, while livestock and floral projects reinforce small-business and entrepreneurial skills that can lead to careers in production agriculture, veterinary services, horticulture and agribusiness.

As Princeton FFA members return to their classrooms and barns, the county show’s results will inform classroom instruction, chapter planning and community outreach during the rest of the school year. Attend a future show, volunteer at school ag events or contact your school board to learn how local decisions influence the continued strength of FFA programs in Collin County.