FSA Youth Loan Turns California Teen to Livestock Exhibitor

Through youth loans, FSA helps to start and operate income-producing youth projects of modest size for the applicant to gain experience and education in agriculture-related skills.

By Brooke Raffaele, Public Affairs & Outreach Coordinator, California Farm Service Agency

Madison Thomas, a 4-H member in Hanford, California, used a youth loan through the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) to fund her first steer project. Her interest in showing livestock through 4-H was sparked by friends with similar livestock projects.

With her youth loan, Thomas decided to purchase a large Hereford steer named “Titan.” With care, love and devotion, Titan quickly grew to be a gentle giant, weighing in at 1,280 pounds.

Through youth loans, FSA helps to start and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in 4-H clubs, the National FFA Organization, a Tribal youth group, or similar agricultural youth organization. For the project to be financed, the loan needs to provide an opportunity for the applicant to gain experience and education in agriculture-related skills.

Having a youth loan requires the applicant to have a recommendation from a project advisor who verifies that he or she will sponsor the loan applicant, has the correct training and experience to supervise the project, and is available to help whenever needed.

With the support of FSA and the support of her mother, Jennifer, Thomas and Titan competed in the Sierra Winter Classic and the Kings Fair.

At the Sierra Winter Classic, along with other awards, Titan won Grand Champion Market Steer and placed first in showmanship, champion drive and in his market class.

At the Kings Fair, Titan placed first in beef intermediate showmanship and fourth in intermediate showmanship in the large animal round robin. Thomas was also able to secure $4.00 per pound at the market sale, allowing her to successfully pay back her loan and make a profit.

At the Kings Fair, Thomas was able to secure $4.00 per pound at the market sale, allowing her to successfully pay back her loan and make a profit.

“I prepared for the show by training my calf every day for at least 30 minutes, up to an hour, and making sure that he knows the basics of showmanship, while still being able to find out new moves that would work for his personality and body type,” Thomas said.

After a successful first market project, Thomas is already working on her second youth loan with FSA. She plans to show a steer again, but this time it will be a Shorthorn.

“I learned that every steer is different and that steers are caring, loyal and compassionate. They don’t fit into the raging bull category because it doesn’t matter how big the animal is, you can still break down their walls and tame the beast,” she said.

With the dream of one day owning her own cattle ranch or being an FFA advisor, after graduating from high school, Thomas plans to attend South Dakota State University to study animal science.

For more information about FSA’s youth loan program, contact your local FSA office or visit www.fsa.usda.gov. To find your local FSA office, visit http://offices.usda.gov.