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Meigs Girl Gets Jump On Career Working With Animals
By: Tim Sharp
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In a few days Jackie Jordan will hit one of those milestones of life, she'll enter high school in Meigs County.
While that would be enough excitement for most 14-year-olds, Jordan is looking much further down the road – to a career as a veterinarian.
"I think it's awesome to help animals," She said.
"So many people want to help people but I tend to like animals more for some reason and I grew up around them."
She, her sister Jenna and her brother Jacob already have a wealth of experience in dealing with animals.
This year all three are showing pigs in the fair, and they've all done well.
In past years Jackie has won grand champion and reserve.
While Jackie is showing a pig, she is also showing her rabbits, something she's been doing for five-years, since she was nine.
Her best chance of winning the top prize this year is her New Zealand doe – a white breeding rabbit.
"She'll be in the senior class which is the oldest class here. She was born January 14."
Because the rabbit is a breeding rabbit it won't be slaughtered – not the case with her and her brother's and sister's pigs.
"Our fair is a terminal sale for pigs so all pigs have to go to slaughter," She said. "… but with rabbits, if they win grand or reserve they have to go to slaughter too."
Does it bother her that these animals she's spent so much time with will become meat?
"I usually try not to get too attached to them – and keep them – the pigs – don't give them any shots [allowing] withdrawal time so the buyer doesn't get sick." Jordan said thoughtfully.
"I keep the rabbits healthy; if they win they have to get sold, so the whoever buys them gets good quality meat."
Still, she admits she does name her animals, even those bound for slaughter.
"It doesn't really matter if you name them or not," She said.
"I name mine. Ours are usually really tame and they'll listen whenever you start talking to them and snap your fingers and run up to you when you call their name. So they can learn names."
While she seems unaffected by the loss of her pigs after the fair, Jackie says her sister Jenna is always saddened by that outcome.
For Jackie's rabbits though, she says she'll keep them until they die – which still could be sooner than later.
"They usually have a pretty long life. All mine usually end up dying of unnatural causes, like dogs, so I don't know how long they can live."
When the fair ends she'll begin working on the animals she'll be entering next year.
And in addition to high school, she'll also be a student at a branch of the University of Rio Grande housed next to Meigs County High School.
That should allow her to get yet another jump on her career.