Opinion

“Anything worth saying is worth repeating. It’s rare that we come across something worthwhile in life, and a single encounter is enough for it to stay with us.” ― Humble the Poet (Kanwer Singh), a Canadian-born YouTube personality, poet, bestselling author, and former elementary school teacher.

Each October, the University Interscholastic League uses what they call a UIL Enrollment Snapshot. This is the day when high schools that are UIL members send their enrollment numbers to the UIL. The UIL then takes all of these enrollment numbers and determines the cutoff numbers for each district classification.

Many people assume that students in FFA only raise and show livestock. While showing livestock is one-way students can get involved, FFA offers leadership, career, and scholarship opportunities, as well as life skills. My job as an agricultural science teacher is to help students find the facet of FFA that will introduce them to a skill or trade they can use after high school and in the real world of jobs and careers.

At a recent school board meeting, a portion of the conversation revolved around the STAAR test, or State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, and how students were struggling with the writing portion of this statemandated “standardized”

I’ve noticed Texas state flag posters displayed with “Proud Democrat” printed on them. I couldn’t help but wonder what made these Democrats so proud. Might it be an elimination of U.S. Energy Independence? What about the selling of U.S. Strategic Oil Supply to the CCP? Could it be the uninhibited printing of money that caused record inflation? I’ve searched elsewhere in case these harmful policies weren’t reasons for their “deadly sin of pride.” More than 1,000 babies are killed daily by the Democrat- ran Planned Parenthood while child castrations and mastectomies are performed under the pretense of “sex changes.” Joseph Mengele would have been proud. Democrat men pretend to be women while acting out in degrading female stereotypes as Democrats show them more respect than real women, and Democrat guys pretend to be gals in sports often defeating and sometimes injuring females. Are they proud of those actions? There’s Democrat “diversity, equity, and inclusion” that’s “divisive, exclusive, and inequitable,” and don’t forget the Democrat-created “Open U.S. Borders.” Are they proud of those harmful agendas? There’s plenty more but I’ve only so much space here. These posters displaying Democrats strike me as folks who would use the phrase “Proud as A Rooster,” not caring that roosters run their fathers off, have relations with their mothers and daughters, and scratch around in their own crap all day long. James R. Le Blanc Fort Davis

“Life is simple … either you’re qualified, or you’re not. — Navy submariner saying.

For the past two years, Ryan Stieg has served as the president of the Big Bend Livestock Association’s (BBLSA) board of directors. While summer months are a bit slow for the board, Stieg says that come about September, things begin to speed up and get busy.

“It’s a small world. And the older I get, the smaller it gets.” — Attributed to my longtime friend and sage, Oscar Elliott.

We have a lot to be excited about this spring at Sul Ross State University. It’s a season of renewal, growth, and fresh beginnings.

Since the dawn of the information age, the way we communicate and live has undergone a transformative journey. Many sought hope and prosperity in big cities like Houston, El Paso, San Antonio, Dallas, and Austin, attracted by the economic opportunities and comforts the big city provides. However, a different kind of allure beckons from the high desert region - the desert’s call.