Washington County Enterprise-Leader
Senior Signs Letter Of Intent To Judge Livestock
FARMINGTON — Farmington High School senior Dixie Miller is the second senior this year to sign a letter of intent to compete on a livestock judging team.
Miller signed with Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kan. Like her classmate, Miller also was a member of Farmington FFA’s livestock judging team that won the state championship in 2016 and then finished third in the nation.
Miller said she plans to attend the community college for two years and then go to the University of Arkansas to earn an agriculture business degree. Her career goal is to attend the UA School of Law and specialize in agriculture law.
Miller said she participated in livestock judging initially to learn more about livestock. But the experience also taught her public speaking skills, time management and the opportunity to learn how to evaluate livestock.
She received six scholarship offers and when she visited Hutchinson Community College, she said she knew it was the place she wanted to go.
“The coach was great and so welcoming,” Miller said. “It seemed like a family. I didn’t have any doubts whatsoever.”
Clayton Sallee, FFA sponsor and Farmington agriculture teacher, said Miller is a “great kid, very hard-working.” Miller has put in a lot of hours, Sallee said.
“She’s smart and has a great eye.”
Farmington’s 2016 livestock judging team won state by a 56-point margin, the largest margin in the state competition in 10 years.
Miller was named the high individual overall in the state contest, besting 92 other participants.
The team’s third- place national finish qualified them to represent the United States in the Royal Highland Contest in Edinburg, Scotland in June.