The limited format Stanislaus County Fair concluded over the weekend but many youth in local 4-H and FFA clubs who showed animals will be reliving memories for years. A number of them took home ribbons they earned for animals they tended to for months – and left behind at auction.
Central Valley High School graduate and FFA member and alumni Arianna Gutierrez had an amazing July 19 at the breeding goat show. She placed first in class and division champion Percentage Doe 16-20 months. She also placed third in class 16-20 months for Full-blood Doe; third in class 12-16 months for Full-blood Doe; sixth in class commercial doe under 12 months; third in class commercial doe over 12 months; and second place in class commercial doe over 12 months. She also earned first in Novice Sheep Showmanship.
CVHS FFA swine exhibitors also did well at the Fair. Mina Genasci placed first, and Soriah Corona and Elijah DeLeon each claimed second place ribbons in their respective market classes. Joshua Ludwig made it to the final round of Advanced Showmanship.
CVHS FFA beef exhibitors also had an impressive standing. In FFA Novice Showmanship, Jose Alvarez placed first, Isai Rojas was third place, Guillermo Garibay was fourth, and Yulesa Castro was fifth. Jose Alvarez and Guillermo Garibay both won second place ribbons for their market class.
The Hughson FFA Swine group continued celebrating during the Swine Showmanship competition. Grace Harkrader won the Advanced Swine Showmanship Division in a very tough competition on July 16.
Hughson FFA had two students participate in the Tuesday, July 14 Breeding Swine Show where Harkrader took Top Award of Supreme Champion Female; and second overall in Breeding Swine Showmanship. Colton Calbreath took third in his Purebred Breeding Swine class.
Hughson FFA posted exceptional results in the Fair’s Swine Market Show on July 15. Months of hard work among the 19 students paid off. Grace Harkrader claimed FFA Reserve Champion Market Hog, FFA Champion Swine Light Crossbred and FFA Reserve Champion Dark Crossbred Swine while Michael Heilman claimed FFA Reserve Champion All Other Breeds.
At the July 15 Fair Beef Show, Hughson FFA members who did well included: Averi Coonce who placed first in her class as well as Reserve Champion FFA Market Steer; and Chloe Coonce and Layla Prosser who both took second places in their respective classes.
Hughson FFA’s Molly Tanis placed second in FFA True Novice Turkey Showmanship on July 13.
During Rabbit Showmanship, FFA exhibitors had to answer the question, “How many teeth does a rabbit have?” Those who answered 28 were correct. Hughson FFA highlights included Kirsten Larson taking first place in Intermediate Showmanship; Grace Pike taking fourth place in Advanced Showmanship; Eddy Melendez seventh in Novice Showmanship; and Ethan Larson eighth place in Novice Showmanship.
On July 12 Hughson FFA members exhibited a variety of breed and meat rabbits at the fair. Highlights from the show included:
• Ethan Larson – Best of Breed (Mini Lop) and Best Opposite (Mini Lop);
• Kirsten Larson – Best of Breed (French lop) and Best in Show (French Lop);
• Hope Fahey – Best Opposite (French lop), Best of Breed (Polish) and Best Opposite (Polish);
• Grace Pike – FFA Grand Champion Single Fryer and Supreme Grand Champion Single Fryer.
Hughson FFA students showed their replacement heifers on July 9 and were judged on condition and correct structure of their animals. Khloe Alberto placed second in her heat and was able to go back in for the final round where she placed seventh overall for FFA Holsteins. Hailey Van Vooren showed her Jersey Heifer and received Reserve Champion Jersey for FFA.
Ten Hughson FFA Dairy exhibitors had to endure extreme heat showing on July 8, many ditching their blue corduroy FFA jackets as long as possible before showing in Novice, Intermediate, and Advance showmanship classes.
Aidan Alberto placed first in Novice Showmanship while Lillian Agueda place third and Khloe Alberto fifth. In Intermediate Showmanship,
Anthony Agueda placed third and Lauren Clark placed eighth.
Westport 4-H had three girls participating in goat exhibition, the second year for the club to have sheep. Emma Ludwig won second and third places in Breed. Jacalyn Dorrity and sister Kassidy Dorrity didn’t place but gained experience for future fairs.
Westport 4-H also entered rabbits, cavies and beef.
Those aged five to high school age may join 4-H by emailing stan4hwestport@gmail.com or emailing Yolanda Cruz at the Stanislaus County 4-H office at ycruz@ucanr.edu
The Stanislaus County Fair ran on three consecutive weekends, July 9-11, 16-18 and 23-25. Missing were carnival rides and exhibitions. Arena events such as monster trucks and the demolition derby were held. Limited fair food vendors were also selling favorite foods.
