LDN - Teaching and Learning

Record Participation for Olympia FFA Members at the 2024 Section 9 FFA Fair

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[October 06, 2024] The Olympia FFA Chapter was very well represented at the 2024 Section 9 FFA Fair which was held on July 23rd at the McLean County Fairgrounds.

In total, 19 high school FFA members and 6 middle school members showed livestock or general projects at the Vo-Ag fair.

Sophomore Olympia FFA member, Kennadie Finchum won Grand Champion Steer! Recent graduate FFA member, Aime Witham, did well with her Duroc gilt and crossbred barrow. Sophomore, AJ Witham also did well with her crossbred barrow.

Juniors, Camryn Hilt and Anna Gordon competed in many horse classes and did a great job including Gordon winning first place in barrels. Gordon also showed dairy and meat goats, making the championship drive with her Pygmy kid. She also showed chickens and ducks. Graduate Kyler Simpson and junior Kolin Simpson both did well exhibiting their cattle. Senior FFA member Reed Naughton showed both cattle and hogs. Naughton won Champion Charolais heifer and Reserve Champion Berkshire gilt. Graduate, Rylee Robb had 1st place with her Spot gilt and 2nd place with her Spot barrow. Sophomore, Morgan Buatte showed the Champion meat rabbit and did well with her fancy breeds as well.

Graduate Kaitlynn Whitecotton exhibited several vegetables from her garden including 1st place with her floral arrangement and terrarium. She also had best of show with the coffee table that she built.

Junior, Mallory Miller earned 1st place with both her Simmental heifer and AOB heifer. Junior Chase Ragar showed both dairy and meat goats as well as sheep. He had Champion ram and ewe with his Cotswold and Natural Color sheep. Rager also had Reserve Grand Champion dairy goat. Sophomore, Noah Walsh showed both goats and beef cattle. His goat wether placed 2nd overall and his steer placed third in class. Sophomore Kamryn Rader showed goats and sheep. She won Champion and Reserve Champion ram and ewe in the Lincoln sheep breed and won Reserve Grand Champion ram and Reserve sheep showmanship. Rader also won Grand Champion Dairy goat and goat showmanship Sophomore Clayton Grieder showed several hogs including 1st place with his crossbred gilt and Berkshire barrow. Sophomore Luke Prestegaard won 1st place with his crossbred barrow and 2nd place with his Duroc barrow. Sophomore Trayson Miller did well showing his barrows and gilts. Sophomore Paislee Hoffman did well showing her Hampshire and Southdown sheep as well as her Angus steer.

Kamryn Rader stated, “I was most excited about meeting all of the people from our surrounding schools that we have interacted with at multiple FFA events this year. I learned a lot about helping others to show their animals and the different showing techniques used throughout the show ring.”
“The FFA Fair was a lot of fun because I love showing my animals and I also enjoy getting to talk to fellow FFA members from around the section,” stated Anna Gordon. These FFA members work countless hours with their livestock preparing them for the show ring. They also spend a lot of time looking for ways to improve the genetics among their herds. Most of these FFA members will compete at several shows this summer and fall.

Photos courtesy of Wolf Grove Photos