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Spotlight on Youth
 
Four are division champs 
in FFA job interview contest
PLEASANT HILL, Ohio — Recently several members of the Miami East-MVCTC FFA Chapter competed in the Miami County FFA Job Interview Career Development Event at Newton High School.
The Job Interview Contest consists of designing a résumé and cover letter, completing a job application, performing an interview and composing a typed follow-up thank-you letter. Haley Etherington competed in the Division 4 (senior year) interview competition; she placed first in the county.
Emily Beal competed in the Division 3 (junior year) interview competition, Katie Bodenmiller competed in the Division 2 (sophomore year) contest and Emily Thimmes competed in the Division 1 (freshman year) contest. Each also placed first in the county for their divisions.
All four FFA members advanced to the District Contest to be held in Montgomery County in the middle of November.
NAILE Sale of Champions 
features six youngsters
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A good cross-section of young people and states were represented in the gala Sale of Champions at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) this year. When the sale was over, bidders for six top animals had driven the sale total to $92,000.
Youngsters who are 21 or younger are eligible to show in North American Junior Market shows. Animals included in the Sale of Champions are Champions and Reserve Champions from the Junior Steer Show, the Junior Wether Show and the Junior Market Swine Show.
Six young people who represented six states this year were Brennen Meert, 20, of Plainwell, Mich., with the Grand Champion Steer; Alex Alliger, 19, of Gowrie, Iowa, with the Reserve Champion Steer; Alexandra Raute, 16, of Carmel, Ind., with the Grand Champion Wether; Victoria Ralls, 21, of Talent, Ore., with the Reserve Champion Wether; Savanna Page, 10, of Jefferson, Ga., with the Grand Champion Hog; and Katie Davis, 21, of Paragould, Ark., with the Reserve Champion Hog.
Meert has been showing livestock since he was 8. He is a sophomore studying plant and soil science at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Mich. He enjoys working on the family farm during his spare time.
His steer was purchased by Kentucky Bankers & Associates for $24,500 at the Sale of Champions. Brennen said he will donate 10 percent of his winnings to the DC Strong Cancer Foundation.
Alliger’s crossbred steer sold for $20,500 to the Centerplate Corp., North American Food Court, ACI Distributors, Show Circuit magazine and Showbox magazine. This was his first year to attend the NAILE.
Along with his older brother and sister, Alliger raises show pigs and cattle on their family farm. He attends Des Moines Area Community College where he majors in Agribusiness. After college, he plans to return home to the family farm to work and raise livestock.
Raute has shown for five years; this is her first win that has gone to the big sale. Her family actually does not live on the farm where their sheep are raised. Instead, they commute 45 minutes to the barn 2-4 days a week and spend up to nine hours each day preparing to show. She aspires to continue showing and winning.
The Grand Champion Wether was a Hampshire sheep that sold for $12,000. Buyers included Crown Plaza & Galt House Hotels, Mike and Carol Hancock, Ketcham’s Sheep Equipment, Willoughby Sales and the Agribusiness Industry Network.
Harold Workman, vice chair of the North American International Executive Committee and co-founder of the exposition, said higher-than-market prices paid for animals in the Sale of Champions are rewards for deserving youth who have worked yearlong to prepare for competition at the NAILE.
“It’s not about the price paid, rather it is about the reward given to youth for their work and dedication – after all, they are tomorrow’s agriculture leaders, and encouragement helps them along their path to leadership,” he explained.
Prices paid for the other champions were: Reserve Champion Lamb, $10,500; Grand Champion Hog, $13,500; and Reserve Champion Hog, $11,000.
12/11/2014