On a Mission

Florida Beef Ambassador Hopes to Get More Youth Involved in Industry

- CATHERINE CERVONE

FOR MANY TEENS, the end of high school is about prom, graduation and other senior traditions. McKettrick McKettrick has a few other things on her mind.

McKettrick is a senior at DeSoto County High School finishing out the last few months of her high school career. Though much of her classwork had been moved online due to COVID-19, she definitely hasn’t had a lax semester.

In August 2019, McKettrick competed and won the Florida Beef Ambassador role in the senior division. This was her third time in the competition, with the previous two years being in the junior division.

McKettrick was born in Kansas and moved to Alachua, Florida, when she was young. Her grandparents owned a stockyard in Arcadia and eventually McKettrick ’s family relocated there, where the family has stayed since. Now her father runs the business, with help from the rest of the family, including her oldest brother Max. “Max is learning the ins and outs of the stockyard,” McKettrick said.

McKettrick keeps pretty busy, involved with many activities at school, serving her role as Florida Beef Ambassador, and giving tours at the stockyard. At school, she plays volleyball, serves as president of her high school sorority and a member of the student union and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and helps out with many of the senior events.

One of her favorite clubs is Junior Leadership DeSoto, a leadership club that features members from all across the school. Each group gets the chance to tour DeSoto County and see different career opportunities for people who want to stay in the area after graduation.