son of David and Laura Chilcutt, this
senior at Peaster High School is an
active member of FFA as he travels
across the great state of Texas exhib-
iting sheep. He has won numerous
championships and even a $10,000
scholarship at the San Antonio
Stock Show and Rodeo exhibit-
ing his breeding sheep. Although
Dylan exhibits at multiple large stock
shows, his all-time favorite is the
Parker County Livestock Show in
Weatherford.
Dylan currently serves as FFA
Area IV Vice President and Chapter
President at the Peaster FFA. Last
year, he served as FFA District
President and Peaster Chapter
President. He is involved in the agri-
culture mechanics program at Peaster
and is currently building a 24-foot
goose neck cattle trailer. Dylan has
many SAE (supervised agricultural
experience) projects with the FFA and
has won a state title with one of his
projects earning him a scholarship
through Texas FFA. Dylan has also
competed in FFA leadership events
such as skills demonstration teams
for the last three years. This year his
team won second place out of 347
teams for the state of Texas.
Dylan particpates in the Special
Needs Rodeo for the last five years
at the Parker County Livestock Show
and Rodeo. He volunteers his time
and animals for special needs chil-
dren in Parker County. Dylan is the
definition of a true leader and indi-
vidual that loves competition. After
high school, Dylan will be attending
Texas Tech University in the fall.
Conner Cowdrey
Show winner helps younger
4-H kids
8
Conner Cowdrey is the 15-year-old
son of Clay and Devonna Cowdrey
of Millsap, Texas and is a sophomore
at Brock High School where he is
actively involved in Brock FFA as
well as Parker County 4-H. He is the
Committee Chair for his FFA Chapter,
Vice President of the Spring Creek
4-H club and is also a Parker County
4-H Ambassador.
Conner started showing livestock
at the age of five and continues
Bryce Ratliff
Coming Back After Beating
Cancer
to work on his family’s farm with
the day-to-day operations of rais-
ing Dorper Sheep. Conner has often
has helped younger 4-H members
with their projects, such as sheep,
goats, cattle and pigs. He regularly
helps with showmanship, shearing,
and feeding when other members
need assistance. “I like to help kids
with their projects, he said. “I like to
mentor them or even provide them
with their first animal. I make sure
they are feeding and working with
their animals during their first couple
of years. I had those people around
me when I was younger that were
impactful and helped me to enjoy
it and I want to help others enjoy it
too,” he continued.
This spring he’s been busy show-
ing his animals throughout the state,
recently winning Grand Champion
Fowl Overall at the 2019 Fort Worth
Stock Show.
“I helped with some cattle three
weeks ago. I showed chickens a
couple of weeks ago and sheep
this week. Next, I’m going to San
Antonio, San Angelo and Houston.
The main show that we like to go
to is San Antonio because it has
the biggest payout. The prize is a
$10,000 scholarship. I was able to
buy my first truck with earnings off of
showing sheep and cattle,” he said.
“I like the people I’ve met show-
ing and have made friendships that
will last a lifetime. I’ve had friends
ask why don’t I play football. I told
them I like to be in the show ring,
that’s just what I like to do,” Conner
said.
Springtown High School’s nominee
for this year’s Horizon Award, Bryce
Ratliff, is a fighter, a 17-year-old who
has battled cancer with his chin up.
“To know this young man, you
will witness firsthand his positive
attitude, and see the battle that he
is valiantly fighting is an encour-
agement to us all to become better
by not taking anything for granted,
remaining optimistic, and that we
really shouldn’t be complaining
about a bad day, prayer without ceas-
ing, and to remember ‘God’s always
got our back!’” said SHS Counselor
Teresa Kelley in nominating Bryce.
(“No, God’s got my back,” was
always the young man’s reply when
asked if he was scared.)
The osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
diagnosis came during his junior year
last March after a painful biopsy.
Bryce used crutches for several weeks
after the surgery, which involved
removing 7-8 inches of his fibula and
insertion of a bolt through his knee to
assist in holding ligaments in place.
He underwent chemotherapy, each
treatment typically involving a three
to four-day stay in the hospital.
Homebound the first semester of
his senior year, Bryce, a member of
the varsity football team, occasion-
ally got to sit on the sidelines Friday
nights. “Chemo brain” made keep-
ing up academically tough, but his
homebound teacher’s dedication
coupled with Bryce’s tenacity result-
Continued on page 12