Snyder’s Grant Breeze
By Elizabeth Contreras
For Snyder senior Grant Breeze, life has always been about hard work, family, and finding a balance between them all. When he first started playing football in the third grade, there was no team for his age, so he played against boys several years older. This early challenge toughened him up and taught him what it means to compete. From that moment on, center became his position, and he has carried the responsibility of leading the line ever since.
“I’ve been very lucky with my mentors,” reflects Breeze, who continues to share the profound impact generations of family have had on his life. “Without my dad and grandpa, I wouldn’t be half the man I am today, and without my mom I wouldn’t be level-headed and kind to people no matter the situation.”
Now, Breeze applies the mentorship he received in football, working diligently both as a center and a senior leader who values connection.
“I’ve learned to be a leader through football,” he says. “I was asked to help the younger players.” Football, he adds, has taught him something even bigger. “It’s taught me to embrace the suck in life and push through.”
Similarly, Breeze’s involvement with FFA began through hands-on work, paralleling his football experience. Breeze started showing hogs, then raising them, discovering a hidden passion for agriculture.
“I held a couple positions in AG, including secretary and two years of vice president,” he recalls. “It comes with a lot of responsibilities, like attending meetings during lunch and sometimes even after football practice.”
Balancing his commitments isn’t easy, but thanks to the support of those around him, including teammates who push each other to do their best, Breeze has been more than able to make it work.
“It was hard trying to balance out the time between football, work, and FFA,” he adds. “But I was able to communicate. . . and free up just enough time to make most of them.” As graduation approaches, Breeze plans to apply the lessons learned from football and agriculture by going straight to work and building his life. For Grant Breeze, whether it’s on the turf or in the barn, the lessons have been the same — lean on your people, work hard, and never quit.
