Olympia FFA finds success at FFA Fair
Bloomington-The Olympia FFA Chapter was well represented at the 2022 Section 9 FFA Fair held Aug. 2 at the McLean County Fairgrounds.
Olympia FFA member, Kari Simpson finished her FFA showing career by winning Champion Chianina heifer and 2nd place with her Shorthorn heifer.
Junior, Kyler Simpson placed 2nd with his AOB (All Other Breeds) heifer. Sophomore FFA member, Reed Naughton showed both cattle and hogs. Naughton won Champion Charlois heifer and Reserve Champion heifers for both the Angus and Hereford breeds. He also had the Champion Berkshire gilt and Reserve Champion Yorkshire gilt.
Senior, Paige Finchum exhibited three steers including the 2nd place lightweight purebred. Senior, Tarah Hilt was selected Best of Show with her welding project as she made a vice stand to use in her shop at home. Hilt also did well in the halter horse class, but the performance horse classes were canceled due to rain.
Junior, Reid Glaser showed both dairy goats and cattle. Glaser earned first place with three of his goats and with his heifer. Junior, Rylee Robb earned 2nd place with her Spot and Crossbred gilts and 3rd with her Spot barrow. Junior, Blake Buatte showed the Champion rabbit and also earned 3rd place with his crossbred barrow and gilt.
Junior, Aime Witham showed her ducks virtually and placed 6th with her crossbred barrow. Junior, Kaitlynn Whitecotton exhibited several vegetables from her garden including the Best of Show market basket.
Sophomore, Mallory Miller showed hogs and a meat goat wether. Miller earned ReserveChampion with both her Berkshire and Yorkshire barrows and was 1st place in the lightweight wether class.
Sophomore, Chase Ragar took the prize for most animals exhibited this year. Ragar showedboth dairy and meat goats as well as sheep with 30 entries total. He had Grand Champion dairy doe. He also had several Champions and Reserve Champions with his Cotswold and Lincoln sheep.Kari Simpson said she enjoys competing against her peers.
“My favorite thing about showing at the FFA fair is getting to show against kids inour FFA chapter and others that I don’t usually get to show against at my 4-H fair. It was cool to win my breed and show for Grand Champion heifer for my last FFA fair,” said Simpson.
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 the FFA members will compete at several shows this summer and fall.
This article originally appeared on Lincoln Courier: Olympia FFA members make a statement at fair
