AgGeorgia Farm Credit Swine and Heifer Show Results
On Saturday, Jan. 20, the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Swine Show opened to a standing- room only crowd for the showmanship classes for exhibitors in grades 4- 12. Hosted by Gordon County 4- H, the swine show featured 98 exhibitors competing for the title of champion showman in their grade division. Beginning with the senior showmen in grades 11-12, Gordon County 4-H’er Gracy Sexton earned the first title of the day. For 9th and 10th grade showmanship, Emma Long of Pickens County FFA was named the winner. The winner of grades 7 and 8 was Brody Leake of Pickens County FFA, and champion showman for 4th- 6th grade was Cash Adams of Forsyth County 4-H. Following the showmanship classes came market classes. These classes were begun with barrows, male hogs. Fifty- six hogs were shown in these classes, and the top 5 barrows were all shown by Gordon County 4-H’ers. The Champion Barrow was exhibited by Ben Williams and the Reserve Champion was exhibited by Bailey Stafford, with third, fourth, and fifth place shown by Gracy Sexton, Grace Johns, and Amara White, respectively. After the barrow show, market classes for gilts, female hogs, began. Sixty- one hogs were shown in these classes. The Champion Gilt was shown by Coy Seay, Southeast Whitfield High FFA and the Reserve Champion was shown by Gracy Sexton of Gordon County 4-H. Third place gilt was exhibited by Sidney Wright of Murray County FFA and both the fourth and fifth place gilt were shown by Taylor Dobson of Pickens County FFA. Showmanship champions and top five market champions each received a banner, and the grand and reserve champion of both barrows and gilts received a belt buckle.
The following day, Sunday, Jan. 21, Gordon County 4- H hosted a heifer show for beef cattle, again sponsored by AgGeorgia Farm Credit. The show began with showmanship classes featuring 25 exhibitors, with the most senior exhibitors going first all the way to novice exhibitors. The Senior Champion Showman was Callie Dobson of Calhoun High FFA. Winning the Champion Showman title for 7th- 9th grade was Kayla Lecroy of Floyd County 4- H and 4th-6th grade Champion Showman was Baylor Johnson, also of Floyd County 4- H. Following the showmanship classes were market classes for the twenty- eight heifers shown, split into registered British and Continental breeds as well as commercial cattle. British breeds include animals who originated in England or Scotland such as Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, and Shorthorn. Grand Champion British Heifer was shown by Brent McDaniel and Reserve Champion was shown by Olivia Tierce, both of Gordon County 4- H, and third place was shown by Baylor Johnson of Floyd County 4- H. Continental breeds include animals originated in places such as France or Germany. Breeds include Simmental, Percent Simmental, Charolais, Salers, and Maine Anjou. Grand Champion Continental Heifer was shown by Kylie Hurd of Gordon County 4-H and Reserve Champion was shown by Kayla Lecroy of Floyd County 4-H and 3rd place was Bryson Smith of Gordon County 4-H. Commercial heifers are not registered and are unrecognized by breed associations. The Grand Champion Commercial Heifer was shown by Gabrielle Ralston of Gordon County 4-H and the Reserve Champion was shown by Matthew Ralston of Calhoun High FFA, with third place exhibited Kylie Hurd of Gordon County 4- H. In the Supreme Champion drive, Supreme Overall Heifer was exhibited by Brent McDaniel in the British division and Reserve Supreme was exhibited by Kylie Hurd in the Continental division. Third place went to Olivia Tierce from the British division, fourth place to Gabrielle Ralston in the Commercial division, and fifth place to Baylor Johnson from the British division. The top four heifers were all exhibited by Gordon County 4- H’ers and fifth place was exhibited by a Floyd County 4- H’er. The showmanship class winners, breed champions, and top five overall heifers received banners, and the Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion received belt buckles as well. Both shows were sponsored by AgGeorgia Farm Credit and multiple representatives of AgGeorgia Farm Credit attended both shows.