Drew Thornton during his signing ceremony for Livestock Judging. Thornton, a Gordon Central High School senior, is a top ranked Livestock Judging individual in the state. Thornton officially signed his letter of intent with NorthEastern Oklahoma A & M College in Miami, Okla., at the Future Farmers of America state livestock competition at the University of Georgia on March 27. Front row, from left: Christy Putnam, Drew’s mother; Thornton, Clint Putnam, Drew’s father; back row: Jary Douglas, UGA Livestock Judging coach; Melissa Hubbard, Gordon Central FFA advisor and coach; Cole Rushing, NEO A & M Livestock Judging coach; Lee Crump, Gordon Central FFA coach; Bill McCown, Gordon County Schools superintendent.
Over the years, the 18-year-old has been a part of Gordon Central High School’s Future Farmers of America livestock cattle, hogs and sheep judging teams. This year the team won the state championship, qualifying for a national, and possibly, an international trip.
But that’s only part of the story.
Thornton’s accomplishments have earned him a Livestock Judging scholarship at NorthEastern Oklahoma A & M College, a two-year junior college in Miami, Okla.
“I’ll be the first in my family to go to college. I’m very excited about the scholarship. My mother has cancer and I also have younger siblings. I honestly wouldn’t have been able to go to college without it,” Thornton said.
The scholarship pays for almost everything, Thornton said, including tuition, books, fees, room and board, a meal plan, plus travel expenses to judging events.
As for the additional expenses, he said the school helped him find a federal grant and a few additional scholarships that will cover the remainder of the bill.
Throughout the year, livestock competitions have given him an abundance of opportunities to travel in and out state.
During Thornton’s senior year alone, the FFA team has traveled to many major cities in Georgia and visited Okla., South Carolina and more. They will travel to Maryland in June.
He mentioned that the 2009 National Hog Competition in Minnesota —a nationally sanctioned, collegiate judging contest — helped him showcase his abilities.
“It really helped me get a scholarship. Our team placed sixth and it’s a highly recognized throughout the country. I was the second high individual for pigs in livestock judging,” he said.
High school judging members are actively recruited by senior college coaches to participate in their judging programs, especially at sanctioned contests.
Thornton will graduate high school with honors in May, after earning a dual tract diploma in college preparation and career technical tract classes, with an Agriculture concentration.
He plans on majoring in animal science and later attending veterinary school at the University of Georgia.
Lastly, he wants others to know that there are many types of scholarships at all colleges.
“There are other ways to go to school on scholarship other than athletics. Livestock judging is huge out in the Midwest,” he said.
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