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By Barbara Lockard
Caitlyn Stover is majoring in criminal justice with minors in forensic science and psychology at the University of Findlay (UF); however, the Ada High School graduate is rounding up cattle, goats and poultry instead of computer hackers and home invaders.

At the recent FFA National Convention in Indianapolis, Stover received the American Degree, the highest honor the agricultural organization awards. 

“I have been involved in FFA since I was a freshman in high school,” said Stover. “Since you need to be out of high school for one year to qualify for the American Degree, most of the applicants were in college.”

Growing up on a “hobby farm,” Stover said her family’s FFA involvement began when her sister bought two rabbits.  “Over the years we added cattle, goats and chickens,” she laughed.  “I like working with cattle the best.”

When asked why she didn’t choose to major in animal science, Stover gave it some thought.  “I guess I didn’t want to major in my hobby,” she added.  

Currently a sophomore, she likes criminal justice and is considering juvenile probation as a career path.  On the road to graduation, however, she will continue raising livestock.  There is a University of Findlay chapter of FFA, but she’s not currently involved with that group.  

The criteria for the American Degree include projects and accomplishments at the local, state and national levels. Applicants also need to be a State Degree holder, an honor that Stover earned in 2017.  

With a large animal science program, UF has many students who grew up on farms and are still raising and showing animals.  Stover doesn’t feel out of place as a female focused on farming.  

“There are probably more women than men in FFA right now,” she mused.  “I receive more comments about being a woman in the criminal justice field than I do about raising animals.”  

Although Stover didn’t show livestock in the Hardin County Fair in 2019, she did judge dairy feeders in the Showman of Showmen class.  She was a member of Hardin County’s Junior Fair Board during her junior and senior years in high school and hopes to continue her relationship with the fair.  Still living in Ada, she commutes three days a week to her classes in Findlay.

The daughter of Amy and Curt Stover, Caitlyn seems to be successfully splitting her time between her education and career goals, and her hobby.  With her ingenuity and work ethic, she may find a way to combine both of them!