CoServ gives back to FFA programs across North Texas
Aubrey Fortenberry never forgot the support he received when he was raising animals for Future Farms of America (FFA). The financial contributions of individuals and companies allowed him to continue in the program. But it was up to him to wake up early every morning to care for them.
Now, the Fleet Coordinator spends his days troubleshooting and repairing CoServ’s bucket trucks, boom tip cranes and other fleet vehicles so they are ready to respond to outages safely. But his heart is still in the barns and stalls.
“My parents, my community and my older brothers, they all helped me with my projects but it was the responsibility of doing that that taught me the work ethic that helps me do a good job every day for CoServ. I think we should return the favor to make our next generation want to do that as well.” Aubrey said.
CoServ attended several livestock shows throughout North Texas this season, including the Cooke County Livestock Show in Gainesville.
Just before noon on a crisp day in January in Gainesville, Aubrey and fellow buyer Brianna McBride, Training Supervisor in Customer Care, are talking with Ryker Smith, a Valley View Middle School sixth grader about his lamb, Leprechaun.
Establishing relationships before the auction is critical so Aubrey and Brianna know whether the child really understands their FFA project.
“You can tell when that kid walks into the arena, that they actually worked with that animal and learned how to set it up. It wasn’t someone who did it for them. I was that way,” Aubrey said.
CoServ partnered with Herkey’s Buyer’s Club to buy Leprechaun for $5,400, which Ryker will use to prepare for the next livestock show and help him buy more animals.
None of the bidders actually buy the animals at the Cooke County show – the support from the community allows the students to continue buying feed for the animal and new livestock for show.
The final livestock show of the season is much more emotional for the students because they say goodbye to their FFA project. When CoServ bids on an animal at a terminal show, the meat is donated back to the family.
Ryker’s father Cory Smith, whose family is also CoServ Members, said they appreciate the assistance from CoServ.
“It helps a tremendous amount. The animals are very expensive and not to mention the food, the travel and everything else,” Cory said. “Us as parents try to take care of most of that but we’re trying to teach him the business side of things. Whenever you make money, it takes money to buy new things. Whenever he goes to buy new animals, he’s able to get higher quality animals whenever he makes more money. The harder he works, the more money he gets.”
CoServ has been a longtime supporter of FFA programs in our service territory. CoServ was founded in 1937 as Denton County Electric Cooperative to bring power to ranches and farms and, though many of those rural areas have been swallowed up by suburbia, the electric co-op hasn’t forgotten its roots.
“The skills these students learn, shaking hands, forming relationships, and responsibility, will set them on a path for success in the future and we at CoServ are grateful to play a small part in that,” said Brianna.
