Sixteen-year-old Memorial High School student Clark Ortega splits his time between two very different commitments—football and FFA—and says both have shaped who he’s becoming. While football has been part of his life since he was seven, this is his first year in FFA, where he’s showing his steer, Big Mac.

Clark starts and ends every day since May at the SBISD Barn near the Beltway and Hammerly, feeding, walking, and training Big Mac. The routine is steady and demanding, but he’s taken to it quickly. “FFA teaches responsibility in a whole new way,” he says. “Getting up early, taking care of Big

Mac before and after school or football practice, it’s taught me patience and commitment.”

That hard work paid off when he and Big Mac earned 2nd place at the SBISD FFA Progress Show. It’s one of his favorite memories this year, along with receiving the Big Hit Award during football season.

Clark’s love for agriculture started long before he joined FFA. He first learned how to work with cattle on his grandparents’ ranch in South Dakota, where he also learned the values he still leans on today. “My parents and grandparents all work hard and don’t make excuses,” he says. “They expect the same from me: get up early, do the challenging things, and don’t shy away from hard work.”

Clark hopes to major in Agriculture in college and continue working in the field. His advice for anyone considering FFA: start early, the program allows Jr. FFA members in 6th -8th grade, and be ready to put in

the work. “It’s a big commitment, and I wish I had joined sooner,” he says, “it gives you

discipline, friendships, and memories you won’t forget.”