Junior beef exhibitors succeed at Ohio State Fair

MARYSVILLE, Ohio — The Ohio State Fair is the summer’s highlight for many youth livestock exhibitors, and this summer was no exception for youth who won top honors July 24-August 4.

Amanda Schnoor of California, lead judge, and Scott Bush of South Dakota, associate judge, evaluated 195 head of market animals. The top two market beef were auctioned at the Ohio State Fair Sale of Champions on August 4. Steve R. Rauch Excavation and Demolition was the highest bidder, purchasing the Grand Champion Market Beef Animal for $50,000, exhibited by Elizabeth Heintz of Hardin County.

Heintz received $22,000, a cap set by the Ohio Expositions Commission. The remaining $28,000 will go to the Youth Reserve Program, which provides scholarships, competition awards, and support to FFA and 4-H programs, benefiting other youth exhibitors.

The Reserve Champion Market Beef Animal, exhibited by Delaney Jones of Allen County, was purchased for a record-setting $56,000 by Steve R. Rauch Excavation and Demolition, Mark Kvamme and family, and Meijer. Jones will receive $11,000, with the remainder benefiting the Youth Reserve Program.

To date, the Youth Reserve Program has awarded more than $3.5 million to more than 40,000 youth exhibitors.

The Expositions Commission awards scholarships to junior beef exhibitors looking to further their education. This year, three were awarded to Caroline Blay of Portage County, Alana Hesler of Adams County, and Abbygail Pitstick of Madison County.

Jeff Dameron of Illinois and Chris Cassady of Iowa evaluated the breeding heifers over a period of two sessions. The top five animals of the events were:

Breeding Heifers

Grand Champion: Kathy Lehman, Richland County

Reserve Grand Champion: McKala Grauel, Hardin County

Third Overall: Addie Shaffer, Lake County

Fourth Overall: Kathy Lehman, Richland County

Fifth Overall: Margaret Davis, Gallia County

Market Animals

Grand Champion: Elizabeth Heintz, Hardin County

Reserve Grand Champion: Delaney Jones, Allen County

Third Overall: Frani LeVan, Champaign County

Fourth Overall: Elizabeth Heintz, Hardin County

Fifth Overall: Cole Wharton, Wayne County

In the showmanship competitions, Samantha Wallace of Sandusky County was selected as the Breeding Cattle Supreme Showman for session 1 and Hudson Drake of Ross County was selected as the Breeding Cattle Supreme Showman for session 2. Caroline Blay of Portage County was selected as the Market Beef Supreme Showman.

The Outstanding Breeding Beef Exhibitor and Outstanding Market Exhibitor awards are based on the exhibitor’s combined performance of Skillathon, showmanship, and class placing.

Outstanding Breeding Beef Exhibitor: First Place, Carly Sanders, age 11, of Highland County; Second Place, Sydney Sanders, 13, of Highland County; and Third Place, Dawson Osborn, 15, of Highland County.

Outstanding Market Exhibitor: First Place, Alex Linder, 16, of Ashland County; Second Place, Sydney Sanders, 13, of Highland County; and Third Place, Allison Davis, 17, of Carroll County.

Indiana State Fair Celebration of Champions honors 4-H youth

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — As the 2019 Indiana State Fair drew to a close, one major event remained for 4-H youth whose hard work and dedication had earned them the right to attend the Indiana State Fair Celebration of Champions at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum.

The Celebration of Champions, presented by the Indiana State Fair Foundation, awards 4-H youth for achievement, scholarship, and hard work. This year, the Fair Board and Fair Commission approved the addition of breeding females to the Celebration.

Nearly $250,000 was raised by the Foundation to provide monetary awards and to present the Champions dinner to honor the accomplishments and work ethic of Hoosier youth. The 4-H exhibitors honored at the 2019 Celebration of Champions include:

Non-Animal Exhibits

4-H Exhibit Hall Best of Show: Haniah Kring, Jefferson County

Grand Champion Garden Exhibit: Madison Bollenbacher, Adams County

Grand Champion Cache of Honey: Courtney Juengel, Adams County

Market Lambs

Grand Champion: Lane Slaton, Hamilton County

Reserve Grand Champion: Gabrielle Raute, Hamilton County

5th Overall: Madalynn Brewsaugh, Decatur County

6th Overall: Wyatt Nixon, Whitley County

7th Overall: Jordyn Leininger, Kosciusko County

9th Overall: Mackenzie Larson, Tipton County

Market Barrow

Grand Champion: Erika Newhouse, Grant County

Reserve Grand Champion: Vade Dishman, Henry County

3rd Overall: Noah Kitterman, Blackford County

5th Overall: Keaton Woods, Tipton County

6th Overall: Johnie Anne McDonnell, Wayne County

7th Overall: Ryan O’Farrell, Carroll County

Market Beef

Grand Champion: Harlee Henney, Steuben County

Reserve Grand Champion: Hadley Hendrickson, Randolph County

3rd Overall: Hayley Jarck, Grant County

5th Overall: Ashlyn Kelly, Howard County

7th Overall: Cohl Van Meter, White County

Dairy Steer

Grand Champion: Whittlee Singleton, Marshall County

Beef Heifer

Supreme Champion: Clint Main, Jackson County

Reserve Supreme Champion: Payton Farmer, Jackson County

Rabbits

Grand Champion Best of Show: Marley Heritier, Whitley County

Grand Champion Meat Pen: Jessica Gauck, Decatur County

Poultry & Waterfowl

Grand Champion Show Poultry: Connor Calloway, Tipton County

Grand Champion Meat Type Chicken: Klayton Dorrel, Franklin County

Grand Champion Commercial Waterfowl: Morgan Waggoner, Hendricks County

Goats

Supreme Senior Champion Dairy Doe: Reagan Birr, Kosciusko County

Supreme Junior Champion Dairy Doe: Travis Arney, Hendricks County

Supreme Champion Full Blood Doe: Evan Trent, Boone County

Supreme Champion Percentage Doe: Nash Hensley, Madison County

Grand Champion Meat Wether: Spencer Goettemoeller, Randolph County

Reserve Grand Champion Meat Wether: Skyler Michel, Wabash County

Supreme Drive

Supreme Champion Ewe: Lane Slaton, Hamilton County

Reserve Supreme Champion Ewe: Jackson Ritter, Hamilton County

Supreme Junior Champion Dairy Female: Katelan Godwin, Delaware County

Reserve Supreme Junior Champion Dairy Female: Caylee James, LaGrange County

Supreme Senior Champion Dairy Female: Dalton Freeman, St. Joseph County

Reserve Supreme Senior Champion Dairy Female: Ellie Bollenbacher, Marshall County

Supreme Champion Gilt: Hadley Hendrickson, Randolph County

Reserve Supreme Champion Gilt: Emily Myers, Jasper County

Tractor Supply celebrating FFA with T-shirt fundraiser

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Tractor Supply Co.’s fifth annual FFA Convention T-shirt fundraiser has launched in stores nationwide. For a limited time, customers can purchase a limited edition FFA Convention themed long-sleeve T-shirt to celebrate the 92nd National FFA Convention & Expo, which takes place later this fall.

Net proceeds from sales will go directly to the National FFA Foundation and will be used to fund programs and activities for FFA chapters across the country. The limited-edition shirt has the official FFA Convention & Expo logo printed across the front, which consists of hexagonal molecules and gold rows. The molecules represent the innovative side of FFA, and the gold rows represent crops, a tip of the hat to traditional agriculture.

Customers can purchase the shirt for $12.99 (plus tax) at any Tractor Supply store. The shirt will also be available to purchase online with an in-store pickup. In addition, the shirts will be available at the Convention & Expo, Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Indianapolis. For more information, call your local store or visit www.TractorSupply.com/FFA

Careers in Ag launches to help job seekers find STEM careers

IRVINE, Calif. — Western Growers is rolling out a Careers in Ag Job Center, a jobs platform exclusively for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related careers within the agricultural industry. The job board is initially launching as a complimentary service for all job seekers and employers and is accessible online at agjobboard.com

Candidates looking to find jobs or internships through the platform begin by creating a “job seeker” profile, then use filters to search through jobs by location, distance, and keyword preference. Job seekers can also sign up for job alerts, as well as view full profiles of each employer. The Western Growers team reviews each employer to ensure candidates are applying to real companies with viable opportunities.

Employers interested in hiring through the job center start by creating an “employer” profile. Posting a job takes less than five minutes and companies will be immediately notified when candidates apply for positions.