Dial's active life includes many different activities

Relaxing doesn't happen too often for Chelsey Dial, but last week, as soon as the Central High School senior sat down for a moment her phone rang.

"No, mam, I believe I already know where I'm going," Chelsey told the woman on the other end.

Chelsey received several college recruitment calls just last week, and if you know her, it's easy to see why.

Chelsey, the local Future Farmers of America president who was just named member of the month, is a straight-A student and the list of activities with which she's involved is extensive.

"I pray for patience," said Chelsey, a spirited young lady, when asked how she manages her busy schedule. "I'm so busy with everyone barking at me that I just try to catch what I can."

Chelsey's first love is animals and she hopes to become a veterinarian one day. When she's done with softball practice or working out each afternoon, Chelsey trains and takes care of her own walking horse every day, which, she says, "is the best part of her day." In fact, this year Chelsey had her first chance to compete at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration.

"It was amazing," she said. "I found a new gear in my horse and I couldn't stop smiling."

Just because Chelsey is a horse crazy teenager, don't assume horses are her only love.

"I have 16 Labs, too, and I train them," she said, explaining she loves her dogs just as much as her horse.

Chelsey's grandfather has a farm so she grew up around animals. She isn't crazy about beef cows, but enjoys the dairy cows.

"I judge those," she said. "There's something in the eyes of the beef cow though, I don't know about them."

In addition to being a four-year member of the FFA, Chelsey participates in 4-H horse judging, dairy judging, speaking competitions, soil judging and parliamentary procedure. In 4-H, she is the president of Horse Project, Dog Project, and she's also a 4-H Honors Club member.

Chelsey is a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Honor Society, Calvary Baptist youth group, and the Shelbyville fast pitch softball team. She manages to get straight-As, too.

"I try to get all of my homework done in between classes at school," she said, making sure she has plenty of time for her extracurricular activities. "I'll admit, I don't have to study much. It comes natural."

Chelsey plans to end up at the University of Tennessee to major in veterinary medicine, but she says she may attend her first two years of college at Motlow or Middle Tennessee State University.

Staying busy is something that has been ingrained in Chelsey her entire life, due to her parents.

"I think my dad thinks if I'm always busy I can't get in trouble," she laughed.

Still, she manages to have time for her friends. On weekends, she likes to partake in jam sessions (she plays guitar), bowling and trail riding.

"I like a lot of different things so I do a lot of different things," she said. "As long as I love and enjoy what I'm doing, I'll keep busy."

Through it all, Chelsey says she's learned a lot about time management, how to stay focused and also how to be a responsible citizen.

"When I do something, I want to do it well," she said. "My animals have given me pride in what I do. My horse has to be taken care of every day, his stall has to be cleaned, and my dogs have to be cared for ... that has taught me a lot about being responsible."