Alex High School junior Konner Shebester can be found on the Longhorn football field, baseball diamond, and basketball court, but he said for him it all comes full circle when show season starts for FFA. 

“I’m the president for our local FFA chapter, and I also show steers and judge livestock,” Shebester said. “I enjoy being part of a team and being with my friends. I’m also a very competitive person, so I enjoy playing in games. Growing up, agricultural work has always been a big part of my life,” he continued. “So I knew when I got into the eighth grade, I would be in FFA.” 

Shebester said everything he does takes a hard-work mindset, but showing steers takes the most focus and concentration on detail. 

“It’s a lot of early mornings and late nights,” he said. “Especially this time of the year. This is crunch time, getting ready to compete at OYE. Growing up, my older brother started showing and ever since it’s been a family thing. It takes us all. For example, we’ve been competing in the area basketball tournament, and I’ve had extra practices. So I get my steers up at 6:30 a.m., blow them out, and put them in the fan room. At lunch, I run home to check on them, pick their pens up, and head back to school. Then after the sun sets, I start the process over with working hair, working on showmanship, and then feeding them. But throughout the day my family takes turns going by and checking on them.” 

In his free time, Shebester said he can be found playing other sports, showing, and hanging out with his family and friends. He said his family also runs a small cow/calf operation in Alex which eats up a lot of time. 

“FFA is the best organization you will ever be involved in,” he said. “You will meet your lifelong friends at shows and contests. And you definitely need to go to Alumni Camp. That will be the best three days of your life.”