Completing an outstanding supervised agricultural experience or SAE is only one requirement for the Luverne-Adrian FFA Chapter’s Star Farmer Award, one of the chapter’s top awards.
For this year’s recipient Andrea Severtson, a Luverne High School senior, it was a matter of more than one experience.
Her adviser, Dennis Moritz, could have selected her most recent SAE in goat production. Severtson built a herd of fainting goats.
Then there is her beef production care and management SAE, where her herd grew from a single bottle calf to four cow/calf pairs.
In addition, Severtson is involved in developing proficiencies in equine science, agricultural services and dairy production, all of which could be developed into an SAE.
Severtson’s interest in and love of animals began as a young child and has grown into becoming a career.
“I like the genetics and reproduction (of livestock production),” she said.
Often found caring for her various livestock on the family farm south of Kenneth, Severtson said she plans to pursue a bachelor of science in animal science at South Dakota State University in Brookings. After achieving the four-year degree, she plans to apply for veterinary school.
It was one of her animal loves that propels Severtson to become a doctor.
A horse named Sturgis, a more than 20-year-old palomino gelding, was found struggling to get to his feet in October 2013. With the assistance of a local veterinarian, Sturgis died peacefully.
The experience and compassion of the veterinarian left Severtson with the desire to help others to humanely take care of their livestock.
Mom Denise is not surprised her daughter would make animals a career choice.
“She’s always had a love of agriculture and farming,” she said.
Andrea’s exposure began young with a dairy calf named Bella, now a 6-year-old Holstein in her grandparents’ dairy herd.
Because of Bella’s demeanor (“she’s sassy,” Andrea said), she earned a first-place in dairy handling and an opportunity to compete at this week’s state FFA Convention.
“Each of (the breeds) have different temperaments,” she said. “The Brown Swiss is very head-strong” like Bella.
Based on her SAE projects, academics and work ethic, Severtson was also selected as the chapter’s DeKalb award winner.