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Weekend Edition - May 16-17, 2020
The Times, Gainesville, Georgia | gainesvilletimes.com
CLASS OF 2020
ELLIE CLARK, CHESTATEE HIGH SCHOOL ‘I wanted to be a (small animal) veterinarian, then I thought I’d be an agriculture teacher. Someone told me to write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser. We’re not in charge of what happens.’ Ellie Clark
SCOTT ROGERS | The Times
Love of livestock leads to multiple career options BY KELSEY PODO
kpodo@gainesvilletimes.com It’s difficult to look elegant walking an 1,800-pound beef cow. However, Ellie Clark, a senior at Chestatee High School, leads her cattle with ease, letting nine years of showmanship flow into her every movement. Growing up on her family’s cattle farm, Clark said a passion for livestock was bred into her. She started showing beef cows in the third grade, and as she grew
older, competed in three to four shows a year through Hall County 4-H. “I’ve realized what amazing creatures cattle are,” Clark said. “I’ve honestly formed bonds with the cattle I’ve shown.” During her senior year, Clark became a full-time dual enrollment student, taking classes from Howard E. Ivester Early College in the morning, then completing Work-Based Learning hours during afternoons on her farm. Because Chestatee High
doesn’t have an agriculture program, Clark also spent part of her senior year interning at North Hall Middle to explore a potential career in that field. She helped the school’s agriculture teacher and started the school’s first beef cattle show team. “It was definitely rewarding to teach them and compete against them at shows,” Clark said. Each cattle show is divided into two categories: showmanship and class. Showmanship entails leading a cow into a ring with utter control. Depending on where
the judge is positioned, each cow must be shifted into a correct stance. Clark said the class category focuses more on the appearance of the cow. Judges look for favorable body shapes found in specific cow breeds. This fall, Clark plans to pursue a bachelor’s in animal and dairy science at the University of Georgia. Instead of entering the show ring, Clark said she intends to join the college’s livestock judging team. For now, she has set her sights
on pursuing a career as a large animal veterinarian. However, Clark said she is comfortable keeping her options open. If she could give one piece of advice to upcoming seniors, Clark would tell them to not stress over plans that don’t come to fruition. “I wanted to be a (small animal) veterinarian, then I thought I’d be an agriculture teacher,” she said. “Someone told me to write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser. We’re not in charge of what happens.”
