Robbinsville student chosen for regional program
Robbinsville – Nick Wilson has been chosen from among 45 applicants to participate in the 2025 Western North Carolina Dairy Beef Feeder Calf Program.
This year, between 12-15 participants were chosen after a process that included teacher and parent recommendations, a mandatory meeting for applicants and an intensive form application.
The program is designed to introduce young students to livestock showing, feeding and care. Participants are provided with a dairy calf that they learn to feed and care for, by attending workshops and training that teaches students to walk, halter break, use a weight tape to record weight gain and all the basics to raising cattle. They are also required to keep a journal to record the health and well-being of their calf.
In addition, participants are required to attend events/clinics – where they will work with their calf – and conclude their project by showing and selling their calves at the Western North Carolina Mountain State Fair.
A freshman at Robbinsville High School, Wilson will be pick up his dairy calf March 29. He will be given supplies to begin his care – including a bottle and milk replacer – and will be taught to bottle-feed the calf using proper technique and equipment. He will be responsible for providing the needed food and supplies; and keep a record of expenditures.
When the cow is sold at the fair, Wilson will be given the check from the sale. It is important for him to keep accurate records to determine the profit or loss after he receives the check and calculates the cost, as this is life lessons at its best.
“I am so thankful for this privilege," Wilson shared. "I couldn’t have done it without my mentor Mrs. (Adrienne) Watts."
Wilson plans to attend college and obtain a degree in agricultural education and agricultural business. He plans to become an agricultural teacher and own a cattle farm.
The Robbinsville High School Agricultural Teacher, Watts has been instrumental in the process. She is Wilson’s biggest cheerleader and supporter. She shared the information for the program on her Facebook and he took the initiative to fill out the application and all the steps required to apply.
Watts is in her first year as agricultural teacher and has created a thriving program that Graham County Schools can be proud of.
“I am excited we got accepted into the program," Watts said. "I am super proud of Nick for his drive and initiative. As we begin our first year in agricultural education, I am happy to have us on the map. We are such a small and new program.
"I know that Nick will do awesome and make us all proud."