A multi-sport athlete at Chouteau-Maize High School, Taj Chavez plays running back and linebacker for the football team and catcher, pitcher for the baseball team. Sports are very important to Chavez, but he also enjoys spending time with his FFA family.

“I have been in FFA for three years and my grandpa got my involved in it,” said Chavez.

As a member of the FFA chapter at Chouteau, Chavez is involved in many activities including showing animals.

“Now I show pigs,” said Chavez. “What I enjoy most about FFA is working with animals and working out in the shop.”

Being involved in livestock and showing animals is very time consuming and requires the student to be very dedicated to ensuring their animals are well taken care of. For Chavez, the same goes for his sports teams.

“We are leaders, and we are involved in the community, and we work hard on and off the field even when no one’s looking,” said Chavez.

Last season his baseball team was able to accomplish something the school had not achieved in years.

“Our school had not won a district game in five years, and we won districts and made it to regionals,” said Chavez.
Now a junior, Chavez is looking forward to football season and one day continuing his baseball career at the next level.

“I plan on furthering my career in baseball and my education and after I go Juco and I would like to go play division one after two years,” said Chavez. “I want to thank my family for always pushing me through stuff even when I didn’t want to and I want to thank my coaches for treating me like their own and being my second home.”