We caught up with Mr. Jeff Ripley to learn more about his hometown before he steps “Inside the Ring” to sort the FFA Show at the 2025 Nebraska State Fair. Get to know Jeff below!
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in a small town in Central Texas, Gorman.
How many kids were in your graduating class?
17, most of us went all 12 years together (we didn’t have a Kindergarten in our school)
If we go back to your senior year of high school, what song was “your song”?
Probably Unwound by George Strait. But there was also the occasional Lynard Skynard or AC/DC song playing on the cassette player in my pickup.
Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? If so, what?
Very involved in 4-H and FFA. Played football, basketball and ran track in High School. When you graduate with 17, you kind of do everything.
If you could describe your hometown in one word, what would it be?
Peanuts! In the 80’s we were the peanut Capital of the Southwest. Most everyone worked in the peanut production industry in some capacity. We had a very large production plan that processed raw peanuts into oil and also roasted peanuts. In the Fall, our town smelled like roasting peanuts. I can still smell it today.
Were there any local traditions or festivals you loved?
We had the Peanut Festival and our neighboring town had the Peach and Melon Festival. Both were big deals in small towns!
If someone were visiting your hometown for the first time, what’s the one thing they must do?
There is really not much left there. Friday night football games are still the thing to do in the Fall.
Are there any people in your hometown who shaped who you are today?
Absolutely. Other than my parents, my Ag Teacher, Bo Caraway was instrumental in keeping me involved in this industry. He loved the livestock show program and trained many of us young people who became either Teachers or County Agents.
