Strutting Their Stuff At Junior Livestock

WAITSBURG - Local 4H and FFA groups came to the Fairgrounds this last weekend for the annual Waitsburg Junior Livestock show as they have for more than half a century.

Youths as young as six years old were out in force to strut their animals' stuff in the arena for the chance at the Grand Champion title.

Blue and red ribbons were awarded in all classes and each division's reserve and grand champions competed for the overall Grand Champion honors that came with tack prizes, gift certificates and ribbons.

"We are a non-sponsored event and just don't have the funds to compete with the larger shows as far as premium monies go," said livestock board secretary Debra Callahan. "Plans are in the works for grants and local sponsorship for next year that would allow for larger premiums and hopefully increase turnout numbers.

"We are a smaller scale show but this event is more about getting the kids and the animals some experience in the ring to prepare them for the rest of the year."

This year's show had an increase the number of in firsttime participants like six-year-old Zachary Loe from College Place who brought his chicken "Speckles". "Speckles" was a little shy on the table but kept his composure and now has some experience under his belt for when he and Zachary head to Walla Walla's Frontier Days this fall.

Waitsburg sixth grader Deja Williams was all smiles as she and her pig "Porka" herded their way through traffic all decked out in her Grand Champion ribbons.

"I really like working with pigs," said Williams. "This is my first year and it's a lot of fun. I'd like to do it again next year."

Waitsburg junior Billy Brown is a Chicago native who recently joined the Waitsburg chapter of FFA. This was his first time ever competing in a livestock show. He gave the John Deere no mercy in the tractor driving course and took home the overall Reserve Grand Champion ribbon for Swine. The city boy, who has been better known so far as high-achieving track athlete, definitely found himself some country roots.

2011 Winners

Swine: 4-H Champion Junior Swine Showman - Cason Nichols; 4-H Reserve Champion Junior Swine Showman - Deja Williams; 4-H Champion Intermediate Swine Showman - Devon Newman; 4- H Reserve Champion Intermediate Swine Showman - Tristan Newman; Champion FFA Swine Showman - Katie Foley-Hutsell; Reserve Champion FFA Swine Showman - Beka Adams; Overall Grand Champion Swine Showman-Tristan Newman; Overall Reserve Grand Champion Swine Showman- Cason Nichols; 4-H Champion Weaver- Cason Nichols; 4-H Champion Feeder under 99 lbs- Deja Williams; 4-H Reserve Champion - Tome House; 4-H Champion Feeder 100-120 lbs - Joe Leamy; 4-H Reserve Champion - Devin Newman; 4-H Grand Champion Feeder Swine - Deja Williams; 4-H Reserve Grand Champion Feeder Swine - Devin Newman; FFA Champion Feeder under 99 lbs-Emily Wilson; FFA Reserve Champion-Billy Brown; FFA Champion Feeder 100 - 120 lbs-Brandon Gusse; FFA Reserve Champion - Emily Wilson; FFA Reserve Grand Champion Feeder- Billy Brown; Overall Grand Champion Feeder -Deja Williams; Overall Reserve Grand Champion-Emily Wilson. Beef. Champion Junior - Drew Farley; Reserve Champion - Hannah Krom; Champion Intermediate - Jarod Farley; Champion Senior - Hannah Helms; Overall Grand Champion Beef Showman Hannah Helms; Overall Reserve Grand Champion Showman - Drew Farley; 4-H Champion Feeder Stree; Drew Farley; 4-H Reserve Champion Feeder Steer - Hannah Helms; 4-H Champion Feeder Steer - Drew Farley; 4-H Reserve Champion Feeder Steer - Hannah Helms; Overall grand Champion Feeder - Drew Farley; Overall Reserve Champion - Hannah Krom;. Goat: 4-H Champion Junior Showman - Mckenzie Frost; Reserve Champion - Devon Harshman; 4-h Champion Intermediate Showman - Heather Mc- Coon; Reserve Champion - Stacia Deal; FFA Champion Showman - Seth deal; Reserve Champion - TJ Callahan; Overall 4-H Grand Champion Goat Showman -McKenzie Frost; Overall 4-H Reserve grand Champion Showman Heather McCoon; Overall grand Champion FFA Showman-Seth Deal; Overall Reserve Champion FFA Showman - TJ Callahan; 4-H Champion Feeder Goat - Devon Harshman; 4-H Reserve Champion Feeder Goat- Heather McCoon - 4-H Champion Market Wether - McKenzie Frost; FFA Champion Feeder Goat - TJ Callahan; FFA Reserve Champion Feeder Goat - Loegan Harshman; Overall Grand Champion Wether - Devon Harshman; Overall Reserve Grand Champion - Heather McCoon. Poultry. 4-H Champion Junior Poultry Showman - Melia Loe; 4-H Reserve Champion Poultry Showman - Bethany Loe; Overall 4-H Grand Champion Poultry Showman - Melia Loe; Overall 4-H Reserve Grand Champion Poultry Showman - Bethany Loe; Overall Champion Poultry - Melia Loe; Overall Reserve Champion - Bethany Loe. Rabbit. 4-H Champion Junior Showman - Bethany Bennett; 4-H Reserve Champion Junior Showman - Mattalin Masters; 4-H Champion Intermediate Showman - Emma Spence; 4-H Reserve Champion Intermediate Showman - Madelyn Walker; 4-H Champion Senior Showman - Grace Burrows; 4-H Reserve Champion Showman - Dannell Larish - Overall grand Champion Rabbit Showman - grace Burrows; Overall Reserve Grand Champion Rabbit Showman - Emma Spencer; 4-H grand Champion Junior Buck - Grace Burrows; 4-H Reserve grand Champion Junior Buck - Hannah Turner; 4-H Grand Champion Junior Doe - Grace Burrows; 4-H Grand Champion Senior Buck Destinee Bollinger; 4-H Reserve Grand Champion Senior Buck - Taylor Nelson; 4-H Reserve grand Champion Senior Doe - Destinee Bollinger;. Sheep. 4-H Champion Junior Sheep Showman - Braden Kitselman; 4-H Reserve Champion Junior Sheep Showman- Mary Groom; 4-H Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman - Nicolas Kitselma; Champion FFA Sheep Showman - Kim Hamann; Reserve Champion FFA Sheep Showman - Brittany Lute; Overall Grand Champion Sheep Showman - Braden Kitselman; Overall Reserve Grand Champion Sheep Showman - Kim Hamann; 4-H Champion Feeder Lamb - Mary Groom; 4-H Reserve Champion Feeder Lamb-Braden Kitselman; FFA Champion Feeder lamb - Kim Hamann; FFA Reserve Champion - Brittany Lute; Overall Grand Champion Feeder Lamb - Kim Hamann; Overall Reserve Grand Champion Feeder Lamb - Braden Kitselman.

Along with showing their animals for body scores, the children were asked about proper feeding regimens and health care needed to grow and maintain sound livestock. There is also a judging category that helps train their eye for future livestock selections for breeding and market values.

Posters and photos were included in certain displays that label body parts and describe feeding techniques. The animals are housed at the show overnight so pen cleaning and animal groom- ing are addressed while participating.

For all the horse enthusiasts it was heart breaking to find the barn empty on Sunday. A day that is usually filled with equine events was cancelled this year due to the EVH quarantine. Despite the lack of equine entries, overall numbers were up for the 2011 event over last year when 100 youths took part in the show with 250 entries.

The Waitsburg FFA and 4H groups welcome any new members and volunteers are appreciated. The 4H Corral Wranglers meet at 7:00pm the first Monday of every month at the McGreggor building in Waitsburg.