Full Armor Christian Academy FFA Member Combats Beef Decline With Improved Herd Genetics
Tuesday, June 30, 2026 | Author: Natalie Brennan, Texas FFA Communications Intern
Motivated by the record low in United State beef cattle, Baxter Whitworth of Full Armor Christian Academy FFA is combating the decline with his Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE).
“As a young cattleman, the challenge is how do we do more with less?” Whitworth said. “We are witnessing record losses of cropland and pastureland with increasing population. I take this challenge to heart as I make breeding decisions based off of EPDs and carcass data.”
To combat these issues, Baxter Whitworth took a more hands-on approach to the cattle industry and started his own cattle company for his SAE.
“I am a very inquisitive young man, so I began to ask a lot of questions about nutrition, reproduction, cattle markets, and much more,” Whitworth said. “The answers I found and the deep passion I experienced for the cattle industry prompted me to start my own cattle company called Top Notch Cattle Company in 2021.”
As the primary manager of his herd, he currently owns 4 Herefords and 15 Brahmans. In order to improve genetics within his herd, he said he researched expected progeny differences (EPDs) of bulls to breed to his females to maximize their breed characteristics.
“To obtain a 100% conception rate, I decided to breed my heifers this past year to my own herd bulls, instead of using an A.I. method,” Whitworth said. “It is important for my cattle to have low birth rates, high weaning weights, and a good set of feet and legs to move around in the pasture for longevity.”
Whitworth said that through this experience, he has developed a wide range of skills in livestock care and management, from feed rations and forage management to marketing and record keeping.
“When I began my breeding herd SAE, I set a goal to eventually have calves in my show cattle SAE that were bred and owned from my own stock”, Whitworth said. “This fall, I was successful at accomplishing this goal.”
Whitworth’s successful SAE project was recognized at the 2025 Texas FFA State Convention as the Star Greenhand in Production.
“Not only have I accomplished having bred and owned calves in my show cattle SAE, but I am also producing high-quality genetics in my show cattle herd.” Whitworth said.
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