GENTRY, AR — Gentry High School senior Bailey Malone has signed a scholarship to continue her livestock judging career at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, where she will compete on the school’s livestock judging team for the next two years.
Malone, a Gentry native, was raised on a commercial cow-calf operation and developed a passion for the livestock industry at an early age. Her interest in agriculture led her to focus on Brahman cattle, which she has exhibited on the national stage while also building an impressive record in livestock judging competitions.
At Gentry High School, Malone has been an active leader in agricultural organizations. She currently serves as president of the Gentry FFA chapter and vice president of the Benton County 4-H Club. Beyond the local level, she has also taken on leadership roles in breed organizations, serving as president of the State Brahman Board and secretary of the National Junior Brahman Board.
Malone has earned numerous honors in livestock judging, including Arkansas FFA High Individual, three-time Arkansas 4-H Reserve High Individual, and Reserve High Individual at the Big 3 livestock judging competition. She has also placed in the Top 5 at multiple regional events, demonstrating consistent success in the highly competitive field.
Outside of competitions, Malone has continued expanding her involvement in the livestock industry. She has traveled throughout the region working with CF Photography, specializing in livestock photography, and works as a ranch hand at Bacon Cattle and Sheep in Siloam Springs, gaining hands-on experience in production agriculture.
At Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Malone plans to major in agricultural business with the goal of becoming an agricultural lawyer. She said continuing to judge livestock at the collegiate level will allow her to further develop skills that have been central to her high school career.
Janae Fairchild, an agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor at Gentry High School, said Malone’s dedication, leadership, and work ethic have made her a standout student and a fantastic representative of Gentry agriculture.
Malone will graduate from Gentry High School this spring before beginning classes at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in the fall.