Pole vaulting for the track team at Hobart High School is not the only specialty junior Polly Tacker has. In fact, most of the time she can be found in the show barn, prepping and showing her shorthorn steer, Arthur. 

“My freshman year my coach asked me if I wanted to try the pole vault and I was skeptical at first,” Tacker said. “But when I first jumped, I fell in love with it because it was different than anything else I had ever experienced. I knew that I was going to do it for the rest of my high school career. But I’m at the barn every day to feed, wash, rinse, work hair, and practice showing,” she continued. “I also try to build a personal relationship with the animal.” 

Tacker and Arthur clearly have a special relationship, as the pair have won third in class at the Oklahoma State Fair, first in class at the southwest district livestock show, and grand champion shorthorn at the Sentinel Livestock Show. She also said there are lots of other awards. 

“I want to win overall at my county show, and I aim to win at OYE,” she said. 

Tacker said she plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in pre-vet medicine. In her free time, she said she likes to hang out with her friends, go out of town to watch sports, and go out to eat. She also said she enjoys spending time with her family, especially during family game night. 

As for FFA, Tacker said that’s something she never regrets signing up for, no matter the hard work involved. 

“It’s not all about showing and raising animals,” she said. “I like to interact with kids and ask them what their favorite things are about agriculture and school. I just love seeing the younger ag kids learn to socialize and make friends in agriculture. There are so many things you can do in FFA, and you will make so many friends and memories that you’ll carry with you for a lifetime.”