Junior Ranchers program at Lakewood Ranch High helps students grow love for agriculture

The summer camp leaves kids wanting to learn more about agriculture and to join FFA programs.

By Liz Ramos
| 5:00 a.m. June 6, 2024

Otis is a friendly face around Lakewood Ranch High's barn.

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Mary Anne Poulton, 9, loved Junior Ranchers summer camp so much last summer that she had to come back for more this year.

Every chance she had June 4, Poulton was either holding a chicken or petting a cow at Lakewood Ranch High.

Poulton said she loves animals and being in nature, so the camp is perfect for her.

She said learning about various bugs and how they can help the environment was particularly interesting to her. But the chickens were her favorite.

"I love the chickens because they're small and I get to pick them up," she said. "They're the size of my dog (a Yorkie named Zoey), and I love my dog."

Her time in Junior Ranchers has inspired her to participate in FFA when she goes to middle school and high school. She said she hopes to someday show an animal, possibly a pig, at the Manatee County Fair.

Ashley Crane, a rising Lakewood Ranch High School senior and camp counselor, shared her personal experience with the campers. She's shown pigs and cows at the Manatee County Fair and has chickens at home.

"It's cool to see their responses and how they interact with the animals," Crane said.

Riley Lukachyk, who is 11, loves holding a chicken. She spent time in the chicken coop at Lakewood Ranch High School during Junior Ranchers summer camp.

Chase Reynolds, who is 10, is careful when holding a chicken.

Ashley Crane, a rising senior, talks to campers about how to tell the difference between a boy chicken and a girl chicken.

The chickens are a favorite of the Junior Ranchers summer camp.

The chickens at Lakewood Ranch High School enjoy the attention they receive during Junior Ranchers summer camp.

Graham Rueping, who is 9, doesn't want to leave the chicken coop.

Mary Anne Poulton, Ethan Carr and Riley Lukachyk listen as Ashley Crane shares facts about chickens.

Junior Ranchers campers are ready to learn about cows and how to weigh them.

Doug takes his time getting on the scale with the help of Camryn Shear, a rising junior.

Mary Anne Poulton, who is 9, returns to Junior Ranchers for a second year. She loves being with all the animals and spending time in nature.

Chase Reynolds, who is 10, takes his time gently petting a cow.

The campers wait to see how much Otis will weigh after being put on the scale by rising senior Kendall Huerta.

Zig gives Kaylee Crane, a rising sophomore at Lakewood Ranch High School, a little trouble getting to the scale. It's Zig's first time being weighed.

Emma Syfer, a rising junior at Lakewood Ranch High School, has been interested in agriculture since she was 6 years old. Now she's teaching kids about cows and other aspects of agriculture during the Junior Ranchers summer camp.

Kennedy Hoeper, a rising Lakewood Ranch High junior, takes Sadie to get weighed. It's important for the cow's weight to be measured to track its progress.

author

Liz Ramos

Managing Editor Liz Ramos previously covered education and community for the East County Observer. Before moving to Florida, Liz was an education reporter for the Lynchburg News & Advance in Virginia for two years after graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism.