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Port Byron High School’s Newspaper Only the Best From the Panther Press Established 2011

March 2016 Volume 6, Issue 13

PANTHER PRESS PRINT EDITION: PART OF PORT BYRON’S STUDENT MEDIA GROUPGenerating opportunities for students to create media; broadening perspective, increasing marketability upon

graduation, and reaching out to the local and global community.

Panther Press StaffQuestions? Comments? Concerns?

Feel free to contact us!panther.press1@gmail.com

Staff Editor: Miss RaoEditing Chief of Staff and

Senior Columnists: Tyler Guarnieri

Maddie JorolemonKatie Locastro

Molly RyanKaitlyn SevillaEric StabinskyColumnists:Taylor Cuff

Jessi Menotti Lexi Vitale

Kaleigh McLoughlin Kristen SevillaMarissa RecckioEmma Redmond

Sophie Redmond Emily Ryan

Abbey Vincent Anna Vincent

On behalf of the Panther Press Team, we’d like to thank you for reading this issue! Be sure to come back for more of Port

Byron’s best newspaper!

Emily RyanColumnist Sister Goal(ie)s

Each year, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated on March 17th. Although it is often celebrated socially, it began as a religious holiday that is known to recognize the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death. People of Irish heritage have celebrated this religious day for over 1,000 years. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated during the season of Lent. Families often go to church in the morning and celebrate later in the day. During lent, people who celebrate various practices of Christianity would not eat meat (this tradition still occurs in many religious households today). St. Patrick’s Day was a special oc-casion during Lent in which people could drink, dance, and eat traditional meals and is still the case today. St. Patrick’s Day began as this religious feast day for Christians, but is now widely celebrated across the world with parades, dancing, and the color green, symbolizing the Emerald Isle.

St. Patrick’s DayMaddie Jorolemon Senior Columnist

Younger siblings often follow in their older sibling’s footsteps in sports; the Lupo sisters are no exception. Port Byron freshman, Morgan Lupo, takes after her older sister, Port Byron alumna, Amanda Lupo. Currently, Amanda is a sophomore at Utica College and the backup goalie on the women’s ice hockey team. Never short on determination, Amanda has started four games and played five in total. As said by her coach, “Amanda works tremendously hard and she’s always ready to go.” When asked if Amanda influences her participation in sports, Morgan replied, “yes.” “In the fact, when I was little, we both played hockey,” said Morgan. Morgan is very supportive of her sister, having gone to most of her games, only missing one due to her own commitment to soccer. This season, Amanda has an impressive .917 save percentage and a 2.26 goals against aver-age. Amanda and Morgan credit their father with having a heavy influence on both girls playing the goalie position in hockey and soccer, respectively. Their father, Mike Lupo, was a goaltender himself, playing lacrosse, soccer, and hockey. Most likely influenced by her father, Amanda has decided that she is going to play lacrosse for Utica this spring as well. Although it is a sport she has never played before, her athleticism shined true and she made the team and is excited to start. Not only are both sisters goalies, they also look alike. “People always mistake me for my sister. Everyone is con-stantly congratulating me on Amanda’s articles online,” said Morgan. But, Amanda isn’t the only Lupo sister being recognized for her athletic talent. Morgan is a part of a U.S.A. Olympic Develop-ment Program (ODP). She has always had a love for soccer and is successful because of her hard work and determination. Morgan plans to continue playing soccer throughout college. She has already started researching colleges and making lists of ones she finds interesting. Her goal is to major in kinesiology/exercise sci-ence and go to college in a warm climate.

Shamrock Shake Recipe Taylor Cuff Columnist

INGREDIENTS:-1 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream-1/2 cup whole milk-10 drops green food coloring-1 teaspoon peppermint extract-Whipped cream (optional)-1 Maraschino cherry

PREPARATION: In a blender, combine the vanilla ice cream, milk, green food coloring, and peppermint extract, and process until smooth, about 30 seconds. Pour the shake into a glass and top with the whipped cream and maraschino cherry.

Eric Stabinsky Senior Columnist

Distance Running

Horoscopes with Madame H

Lexi Vitale Columnist

Tropical Cyclone Winston causes Havoc in Fiji

Distance running to me is likely very different than how most people probably view it. Most think that the mile (1.6K) and two mile (3.3K) in track and field are considered “distance running,” however, I would honestly consider a 5K (3.1 miles), 10K (6.2 miles), 15K (9.3 miles), half (13.1 miles) or full marathons (26.2 miles) to be true “distance running.” If you are a runner, then maybe you are ready to challenge yourself with a race of some type. If you are not a runner, but are looking for a great way to either get in shape or stay in shape, there are plenty of ways to train to run at a variety of distances.

Initially, I had no idea I would love distance running as much as I do, but I have come to learn that it’s really about the mental mindset. I trained hard for my first 15K, and my first half marathon. My suggestion would be to find out about the race you want to enter. There are many important factors to consider, such as the elevation. My mom accidently signed me up for a 15K that involved a ton of hills. It was a tough run. The number of runners in the race is also important to know. For example, 15,000 people run the Utica Boilermaker; it is considered to be in the World Circuit for races, so it can qualify a runner for the Boston Marathon or the NYC Marathon. There are large monetary prizes involved in this race as well, so athletes come from all over the world to participate. Last year’s winner was from Kenya, a country that turns out many of the world’s best distance runners. I enjoyed the Boilermaker, but it is certainly intense, and not as much of an enjoyable run as others I’ve done. I have also been fortunate enough to run two of Disney’s Half Marathons. This year, I did a 10K and a half marathon back-to-back. The difference between the Disney Marathons and a marathon you might run somewhere else is the number of participants; there are typically 24,000 people that run. Another thing that makes the Disney Marathons different is that there is entertainment on the course. While a handful of runners don’t stop for a picture in front of the castle – most do. I am far less wor-ried about my time for the Disney races. Another thing to consider when picking a race is the time of year. My best time was at the Empire State Half Marathon, right here in Central New York in November. Sometimes the heat can be draining, so it may be better to run in the fall, rather than the summer. Running long distance has definitely given me longer and stron-ger muscles and a more efficient metabolism. I love that you can train by yourself or run in a group. Our Port Byron Dance Team ran a 5K in December and it was a ton of fun for everyone, even those who considered themselves “non-runners!” I would love to help anyone interested in distance running, so don’t be afraid to reach out to me!

Natives and relief workers rush to begin cleaning up the aftermath and resuming business as usual.

Aries: Take pride in your accomplishments! You’ve had so much success so far, so keep it up!Taurus: Don’t let anything get you down, there’s only three months left of school! You can do it.Gemini: Don’t count on others to make you happy; create your own happiness.Cancer: When school gets you down, try some new study-ing tactics.Leo: Last week may have been draining, but go into this week with a positive attitude and things may turn around!Virgo: Don’t let others stop you from achieving your goals.

The night of Saturday, February 20th saw one of the most terrible tropical storms recorded in the Pacific. The government of Fiji announced that a massive category five cyclone (more commonly known as simply a “hurricane” in the Pacific), known as Tropical Cyclone Winston, had touched down over their small island na-tion. According to a tweet from Australia’s agency of CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Every-where), there were reports that the “Fiji Govt has confirmed the death toll… has risen to 28.” Thankfully the storm has passed, but the hard work is far from over. According to many, Winston was the second most powerful land-touching tropical cyclone ever record-ed (and the strongest ever in the Southern Hemisphere) and thus has caused much property damage and loss of life. Roughly 28 casualties were confirmed during and just after the storm, but according to The Weather Chan-nel, the counting of casualties after the storm has jumped to be as high 42, one of them being a 10-month-old baby. In addition to the large number of deaths, more than 13,000 people have been forced to leave their homes due to extreme winds and flooding. The island has also issued a month-long state of emergency during which they will begin reconstruction. The Foreign Minister from New Zealand (Murray McCully) informed NBC News that “...reports of widespread damage are coming in from across Fiji… It is clear that Fiji faces a major cleanup and recovery operation.” Many charity organizations and national governments have pledged support to the relief efforts in Fiji, one of the leading supporters being Australia with a $5 million pledge. Unfortunately, this is most likely nowhere near the needed amount of resources for cleaning up the island. Normally Fiji is prepared to deal with tropical weather, but the power of Tropical Cyclone Winston was enough to overcome any weather protection they had and deal serious damage, which speaks volumes to its destructive power. Hard times are ahead for citizens of Fiji, especially with the drop in tour-ism that is sure to follow. Storms of this magnitude are relatively rare in Fiji, as the island is comparatively small and therefore makes a difficult target. However, this is far from the first storm to test them, and much like all the ones before: the people of Fiji will rebuild.

Libra: Remember to stay calm in frustrating situations.Scorpio: Try something new; let problems take care of themselves and take care of yourself for a change.Sagittarius: Get ahead on your work, try not to procrasti-nate as much!Capricorn: When you come across a problem, be clever and resourceful to solve it.Aquarius: Push yourself to achieve, but also remember to enjoy yourself.Pisces: When things get overwhelming, remember to breathe.

Macenzie Reese Columnist Untold Features of the iPhone

Sophie Redmond Columnist

An AMBER Alert is an emergency response system that gives information about a missing person (usually a child), by media broadcasting or electronic roadway signs. Many people probably only know them from the alerts that they get on their phone when a child goes missing; however, because of advancements in technology, these alerts that show up could help save somebody’s life. Next time there’s an AMBER Alert, take the time to read more into the location and details to see if you can help. The AMBER Alert originated in the United States in 1996. It was created in remembrance of a 9-year-old girl, named Amber Hagerman, who was abducted in Arlington, Texas. Although this abduction was not the first, or even the first to be recognized, it was the beginning of this style of reporting these traumatic events. These alerts are distributed throughout radio stations, television stations, e-mail, electronic traffic-condition signs and many more. Recently, AMBER Alert teamed up with several websites to help spread the word for emergencies more quickly. Many people have probably only heard of an AMBER Alert from the alerts that are automatically sent to millions of cellphone users. These are sent because of a program started on January 1st, 2013. If a cell phone is WEA (wireless emergency alerts) enabled, then it is automatically set up to receive three alerts: President, Imminent Threat, and AMBER alerts. So, the next time an AMBER Alert comes out, don’t ignore it. Find some information on what happened and where it happened, in case you can help. Take advantage of the new technology that has been created for our benefit.

The Importance of Amber Alerts

You can never know too much about your smartphone. It is hard to keep up with all of the Apple updates and all the features the updates include. iOS has grown more and more feature-rich over the years. Some people who work at Apple don’t even know all the tricks and features put into the new iOS updates. Here are some features that are very handy and allow users to understand their smartphone better. Custom Vibration Alerts: Open “settings,” go to “sounds,” open “ringtone/text tone,” select “vibration,” and at the bottom, choose “create new vibration.” This allows you to tap out the vibration pattern you would like for your texts and calls; you can also set it for just a specific contact.

Text Shortcuts:Open “settings,” go to “general,” open “keyboard,” then select “text replacement,”

A summertime favorite that most people can agree on is delicious sweet corn. Families across the state know it is finally that special time of year when they see fresh sweet corn at their local super-market. This summertime treat is as yummy as it is incredibly valuable to our state economy. That is why students at our very own Dana L. West High School have been working so hard to get sweet corn approved as the New York State official vegetable. It all started in 2007 in Dr. Townsend’s Civics class. The students were searching the web looking for a civic engagement project when they came across sweet corn. “The students discovered how valuable sweet corn is to New York State agriculture and thought it would be a neat idea to see if they could get sweet corn approved as the state vegetable,” said Dr. Townsend.Throughout the years, many of Dr. Townsend’s classes have worked to achieve this goal. Some of which include civics, street law, social studies, and a variety of others. As mentioned above, sweet corn’s value is what inspired students to take on this grand task. In New York State alone, 18,000 acres of sweet corn are harvested with an annual production figure of $42,399,000. New York is ranked fourth in the na-tion for production of sweet corn. Top-producing counties include Cayuga, Orleans, and Genesee. There are many other values of sweet corn other than just its economic benefits. Corn helps to improve bone strength, prevent anemia, boost the immune system, and many more reasons beneficial to your health. The process in which the students are going through to get the bill approved is no easy task. Petitions have been spread throughout the school, collecting signatures from the faculty and students. The students in the 7th grade Honors social

studies class have been writing petition letters to send in. Many phone calls must be made to coor-dinate with New York Senator Nozzolio’s office. The original goal for Dr. Townsend’s students was to be the first state in the country to have sweet corn as their official state vegetable. However, in 2015, Illinois announced sweet corn as their official state vegetable.This announce-ment surprised Dr. Townsend and her class. “Illinois is not a major corn producing state in terms of sweet corn compared to New York State,” said Dr. Townsend. This new change of events is only mo-tivating Dr. Townsend’s students to get the bill approved. Everyone is eagerly waiting for the bill, that is now sitting before the Senate and the Gov-ernment Operations Committee, to get approved. If the bill is passed, the students who have signed the petitions can know that they are the ones who allowed for this to happen, and that they put the power behind our beloved sweet corn. “It is the power of the students being future leaders,” says Dr. Townsend. Hopefully in the near future, you will walk into the New York State Fair being greeted by a sign that announces sweet corn as the official vegetable of New York!

Anna Vincent Columnist

Sweet Corn: More Than Just A Vegetable and select the plus symbol. For example,

if you were to use the word “photogra-phy,” type that into the “phrase” field and then type a shortcut, such as “phy,” into the “shortcut” field. Now, every time you type “phy,” your phone will autocorrect it to “photography.”

Blinking Message Alerts:Open “settings,” go to “general,” open “accessibility,” and then turn on the “LED Flash Alerts.” Now, your camera flash will blink whenever you get a new text message.

Head Control:Open “settings,” go to “general,” open “accessibility,” turn on “switch control,” click on “switches” and add “camera” as a new switch. After you do that, you’ll be able to use specific actions that will take place when you move your head to the right or to the left when looking at your iPhone’s display. This feature is aimed at

users with special needs, but can be handy for anyone.

Hide Unwanted Apple Apps: Do you ever just want those unwanted Apple apps to go away? Go to “settings,” open “general,” go to “restrictions” and enter a passcode to enable them. Then choose the apps you want to hide from your home screen and turn them off.

Make TouchID Work Faster:If you save the same fingerprint more than one time, the different entries and TouchID will work faster. This is helpful for older iPhones with finger scanners.

Deleting Numbers in Calculator:Are you always having to delete the whole number when using the calculator on your iPhone? You can delete single digits by swiping the number to the left or right where the numbers appear.

An Irish TaleMolly RyanSenior Columnist The United States has not been nicknamed the “melting pot” of cultures for nothing; being 100% of one ethnicity is pretty rare in America these days because of the great diversity in our country’s population. My grandmother on my mom’s side, Sue Butera, is 100% Irish. Her grand-parents (my great-grandparents) came to America directly from Ireland. Her maiden name is “Maloney;” it doesn’t get much more Irish than that. Both her parents were 100% Irish, which is what makes my grandmother solely of Irish blood as well. My grandfather, John Butera, is 100% Italian, making my mom’s heritage half Irish and half Italian. Going down a generation further, my sisters and I are almost fully half Irish and half Italian as well (because my father’s parents were almost fully or Irish and Italian ancestry too, with a little English and Scottish thrown in there somewhere). St. Patrick’s Day holds a special place in my grandmother’s heart due to her lineage. It’s one of her fa-vorite holidays, but shamrocks and the color green are seen around her house all year round. To my grandma, St. Patrick’s Day is about celebrating your heritage. “I eat, drink, and be merry,” she said when asked how she celebrates the holiday. My grandma has visited Ireland twice, and would like to go back again. My cousin studied abroad in Ireland, and the country is number one on my travel bucket list. My grandma’s love and passion for Ireland and the Irish culture sparked our interest in that branch of our family tree. To those who are of Irish descent, St. Patrick’s Day is a sentimental holiday. It is more than just a day on which we hunt for leprechauns and wear green. It is a day to think about what it means to be Irish and be thankful for family, friends, and our Irish ancestors. I believe I inherited “the luck of the Irish,” because I am truly lucky to have a grandmother so happy, proud, and aware of where she (and I) come from.

After winning both New Hampshire’s and South Carolina’s primaries, it seems increasingly likely that Donald Trump will be the Republican party’s choice for the presidential nomination. For some, this is a terrifying possibility. Since Trump has engaged in a war of words with dignitaries including the Pope, he is viewed as a loose cannon. In the event that Trump does become the official nomi-nee, or possibly president, other countries are already taking measures to protect the world as we know it. Cape Breton, located on the East Coast of Canada, is around the size of Hawaii’s Big Island, and is currently experiencing a problem with their population. Instead of having too many people, the island actually has too few. This quote is from Cape Breton’s website: “Hi Americans! Donald Trump may become the president of your country! If that happens, and you decide to get the hell out of there, might I sug-gest moving to Cape Breton Island!” At first people thought that it was a joke, but it turns out this small Canadian oasis is quite “for real.” Cape Breton really is accepting American immigrants, should Trump receive the nomination or win the presidency. On their website, readers are encouraged to find out more about the immigration process and Cape Breton’s diverse culture. Interested? Just go to http://cbiftrumpwins.com for all you need to know. (And yes, that really is the website.) In January, Britain considered a ban on Trump. Several Brits started a petition that would have kept Trump from being allowed to enter the country. After receiving 574,000 signatures, the petition traveled to Parliament to be voted on. Surprisingly, it in fact was seriously considered, but the ban on Trump did not come to fruition, because it would have gone against the ideals of free speech and tolerance that Britain boasts. British Prime Minister David Cameron was quoted as saying: “I think if he came to our country, he would unite us all against him.” There is still some hope for the British. Another petition was released recently to send Trump to space... and leave him there. Although certainly the beauty of America is that anyone, even Mr. Trump, could become president, there are some people who have thought ahead for what this might mean for them should they disagree with his politics. The Americans who fear for their safety will be able to escape to an island with a fascinating culture and amazing views. I hear they have nice weather in the summertime.

The Fear of Trump Jessi MenottiColumnist

Ask A PantherMarissa RecckioColumnist

“If you could attend any concert for free, what would it be?”

7th grade: “Zayn Malik” -Abbey Ryan

8th grade: “Fifth Harmony” -Chloe Skutt

9th grade: “Justin Bieber or One Direction” -Jessica Suslik

10th grade: “A classical music sym-phony” -Addie Bisnett

11th grade: “Florida Georgia Line” -Olivia Leonti

12th grade: “Luke Bryan” -Abby Leonti

Shaken Taiwan Recently, Mr. Hsu, Port Byron’s own technology guru, traveled to Taiwan to visit his family and to celebrate the Chinese New Year. During his first night in Taiwan, he experienced an earthquake that registered 6.4 on the Richter scale. Although he wasn’t directly at the epicenter, he still felt some rumbles of the massive quake. Mr. Hsu is originally from Taiwan. He moved to the United States to go to college and because he wanted a change after high school. This earthquake was not out of the ordinary for him, however, his wife had never experienced anything like this, as she has only experienced what little rumbles we have here in Central New York. Mr.

Hsu said she described it as, “just like the turbulence on an airplane.” Across the country, the damage was far more extensive and even deadly; international news reported that 116 were killed and over 500 were injured, raising concern here at home for Mr. Hsu and his family. According to CNN, 11 high rises collapsed due to the deadly quake. Earthquakes are not out of the ordinary for Taiwan. Taiwan is located on top of the Circum-Pacific seismic zone or the ring of fire. Thankfully, the Hsu family was safe and sound and all of us here at Port Byron are certainly glad that they weren’t closer to the epicenter.

Emma Redmond & Abbey VincentColumnists

Cape Breton, island in Nova Scotia, Canada

The Inside Scoop Katie LocastroSenior Columnist Urban Decay’s Naked Palette Dupes Kristen Sevilla

Columnist After a long, dormant winter, the Ice Cream Shoppe, located at Ed and Jean’s in Port Byron, is finally open again. It isn’t open for its usual summer hours yet, but it is open from 11am to 7pm, Mon-day through Saturday. The Ice Cream Shoppe has always been a hot spot in Port Byron where kids can go to hang out with friends and enjoy a delicious treat. There are even some Port Byron seniors that work in the shoppe. Carrie Martens and Brittany Westover have been working there for quite a while now, and both really enjoy their jobs. “I like working at the Ice Cream Shoppe because I work with good people that make it enjoy-able,” Carrie Martens says. Both Martens and Westover are excited for it to open back up again, not only because they en-joy working (and getting paid), but also because they love the ice cream and the assortment of cooked foods that they have.

Some of the specials that the shoppe serves include: Monday: Large cold sub with fries and a large drink $6.99 Tuesday: Soft or hard taco $3; Taco salad $6.25 Wednesday: Pepperoni or cheese pizza $6.99 Thursday: Hamburger with fries and large drink $5.00; two hot dogs with fries and large drink $5.50 Friday: Fish dinner with fries $8.95; fish dinner with onion rings or macaroni and cheese $9.95; fish sandwich $4.95Some of their best selling ice creams also include: Piece of Cake: A favorite of every cake lover Queen of Hearts: Perfect for chocolate lovers Classic Swirl: Great for anyone who can’t decide between vanilla and chocolate

Martens and Westover really enjoy the staff and the experience working there. “My favorite part is working with my friends and creating memories,” says Brittany Westover. If you’re looking to satisfy your hunger (or your sweet tooth), head down to the Ice Cream Shoppe soon!

The famous “Naked Palette” is known to be the best eyeshadow palette for creating perfect neutral looks. There are a wide range of colors and sparkles ensuring the creation of numerous looks. The only con of this palette is that it is $54, because those of us who are on a budget don’t have that kind of money to spend on eyeshad-ow. Besides, who would spend $54 on something that they can purchase for a fraction of the cost? Luckily, there are a few eyeshadow palette dupes (the word “dupe” is short for duplicate; it's a cheaper copy of a high-end item) that are not only similar to the Naked Palette, but a lot more affordable. Purchase the palettes below to prevent from breaking the bank.

W7 In The Buff Palette in Lightly Toasted - $8.29 Pretty much all of the colors in this palette are identical to the Naked Palette, even the order of the eyeshadow colors.

MUA Undressed Palette - $6 This crazy affordable palette includes shades very similar to those in the Naked Palette, one can’t even tell the difference.

E.L.F. 32 Piece Eyeshadow Palette in Natural - $9.64 This huge palette has six exact dupes for the Naked Palette, and even more neutrals and taupes to choose from.

Makeup Revolution Iconic 1 Palette - $7 The shades in this palette are completely identical to the Naked Palette. Who wouldn’t want to save $47?

Coastal Scents Revealed Palette - $20 Although this palette is more expensive than the others, it is definitely worth it. It offers amazing quality at a low cost and there is a dupe for every shadow shade in the Naked Palette.

Eighth-grader Donna Todd isn’t sheep-ish about her obsession with her farm animals. One can easily spot Donna; she is always sporting some variety of sheep-patterned at-tire, whether it be on her socks or her ever adorable “Fleece Navidad” shirt. But Donna isn’t the only one in her family who is proud of their animals, her whole family is in it together. The Todd Fam-ily Farms is located in Throop, and has been in the family for quite some time. “I’m the third generation. My grandpa bought the farm 42-43 years ago,” explained Donna. “Everybody helps work, but my grand-pa, dad, and uncle mainly. My grandma, mom, aunts, cousins, brother and sister and I all help out, too.” While sheep are Donna’s favorite ani-mal, they surely aren’t the farm’s only inhabit-ants. “We have sheep (obviously), chickens, ducks, beef cows, pigs, and turkeys, sadly. We had a tom [a tom is an adult male turkey] and when it was mating season, he liked to chase after me,” Donna said. “But it was only me he chased after! I went in with a stick one time. Yeah, he got it!” The Todd family breeds their own sheep, raising different flocks for different purposes. “For the show sheep, we have to have a special lamb, it has to be 100% Tunis or Romney or Horn Dorset because if it’s not, they won’t let you show it, and for the com-mercial flock, we just breed it with whatever

Donna Todd: Not “Sheepish” About Her Hobby Kaitlyn SevillaSenior Columnist

ram,” explains Donna. “With the rams, we either keep them or bring them to the market, I don’t like to think about that, but we take them to the market, and with ewes, we keep them to breed.” “We also sell the wool from the sheep. I want to get into spinning the wool, so we started saving bags of wool,” said Donna. When Donna was 10, she attended her first sheep show at the Cayuga County Fair. “The sheep I took to my first compe-tition was Sammy. We didn’t win because there was another guy that was much older, and he spent two hundred dollars on sheep or something! But this year, they found him cheating!” said Donna. “He crossed the sheep, you have to have full purebred, but he crossed it and painted the nose to make it look like it was purebred.” At the competition, there are several rules a competitor must know. “We walk them around the ring, you always have to stay on the other side of the

judge, or they count off points, and you have your hand under their chin, and one behind their ear. When the judge wants to look at them, you stop them and put two of their legs straight across from each other, and the back legs straight across from each other,” the sheep-enthusiast explains. The woman from whom Donna bought her sheep, Sammy, is in the show business and taught Donna all about how to show sheep. “Sammy was already trained, so I just had to learn how to show her,” said Donna. The Cayuga County Fair isn’t the only place Donna has been asked to show. “I got asked to show at the New York State Fair, but I didn’t go… I’m bad at leav-ing my sheep. I’m fine being away with my family, but I don’t like leaving my sheep,” said Donna. “My younger sister Ashley shows sheep, but she doesn’t want to anymore; she actually wants to show chickens. My brother, Jacob, is only five years-old, so he can’t show yet; you have to be seven years-old,” explained Donna. The Todd Family Farm truly is a fam-ily oriented farm. Everyone helps out with chores, even Donna. “I have to hay, grain, and water my sheep. I also go down to the barn and run the skidsteer to bring down hay or grain for the sheep. I am learning how to drive the tractor, too!” said Donna. “I got scared one time; it was icy and we had to go uphill, and it tipped back on only two wheels, and I screamed and started

to cry!” said the young, fearless farmer. Despite this scary moment, Donna finds her home at the farm, and wants to con-tinue working on the farm when she’s older. “I also want to be an elementary teacher. I think my oldest cousin is going to beat me to owning the farm, he’s already 19, but I want to make money as a teacher, but still work on the farm,” said Donna. Donna has seen all aspects of a sheep’s life, from birth to death. “When the sheep are born, the show sheep, we get to name them, if they live. I’ve pulled lambs before,” Donna said, noncha-lantly. To “pull a lamb” means to, quite liter-ally, pull a lamb from the mother ewe during the birthing process. “The craziest experience with my sheep was probably the first time I pulled a lamb. I wasn’t scared, though, I was really happy! Like, I was trying to settle down. It wasn’t gross, really,” said Donna. Donna is a perfect example of how one can have a passion and follow through with it, even at a young age.