Showing off

On Jan. 9 and 16 agriculture students competed at the FFA show in Lindale and the Ag Mechanics show in Fort Worth.

“We teach our students that no matter whether they win or lose, they always come out of the show ring with a winner by having a positive attitude and taking what they have learned and applying it in the future,” agriculture teacher Morgan Walker said.

Students with show animals are involved in the raising and maintenance of their animals through most stages of development. From lessons on genetics to proper nutrition, students with show animals learn how to properly raise and care for an animal that may ultimately go to market.

“The importance of raising show animals is all the responsibility and hard work that comes with the project,” Walker said.

An Ag Mechanics Show is where students design, construct, and weld a project to take to a local or state show. Student projects include trailers, firepits, work benches, and all sorts of agriculture-related items.

“We got a blue ribbon and that’s what we were really looking for on our blue trailer,” agriculture mechanics teacher Cleveland Morris said. “There was a couple of things that they docked us on with the yellow trailer, and we got a red ribbon on that which I was really proud of.”

The students have to come up with a project for contest, and they have to find a picture or draw a picture of what they like. Then they have to make up a bill of materials and price it out. If it’s still a project that they would like to do, they purchase the materials, weld it, construct it, paint it, and completely finish out the project and take it to contest.

“I think they did fairly well for their first time for them being there,” CTE Director Brent Berryman said. “It’s a learning process. The more they go the more they see what’s going on and see the type of quality that they need to reach.

Results from the Lindale Local Show:

Grand Champion Steer- Trevor Brown

Reserve Grand Champion Steer- Autumn Burris

Grand Champion Heifer- Trevor Brown

Reserve Grand Champion Heifer- Emma Harden

Champion Senior Cattle Showmanship Winner- Trevor Brown

Champion Intermediate Cattle Showmanship Winner- Easton Rushing

Champion Junior Cattle Showmanship Winner- Anna-Russell Johnson

Grand Champion Swine- Trevor Brown

Reserve Grand Champion Swine- Sierra Burkham

Champion Senior Swine Showmanship Winner- Cheyenne Burkham

Champion Intermediate Swine Showmanship Winner- Tomi Capps