The Blanco FFA Chapter began the Christmas Vacation by hosting the 12th Annual Blanco FFA Chapter Livestock Show. There were more than 160 entries in this year’s show. In addition, this year marked the first time the show was held in Blanco. The Blanco High School Agricultural Science Building and Ag Barn proved to be an excellent sight for this year’s show, while also being the first livestock show held in Blanco in several decades.

This year’s show began on Friday, following the end of school, with the lambs showing first. Senior FFA member ,Victoria Jones, took home Grand Champion honors with her Champion Medium Wool. Alex Gustafson followed, winning Reserve Grand Champion with her Champion Southdown. Alex also exhibited the Reserve Champion Medium Wool. Other champion and reserve champion exhibitors in the lamb show included: Trevor Hardin with the Champion Finewool and Cross, Mindy Dechert with the Reserve Champion Finewool and Cross, and Tyler Hardin with the Reserve Champion Southdown. Showmanship winners for the lambs included Kaleigh Anderson and Alex Gustafson.

After completing the lamb show, the goat show closed out the day with Alex Gustafson and Victoria Jones switching the top spots from the lamb show as Alex was selected for Grand Champion and Victoria, Reserve Grand Champion. Class champions and reserve champions included: Class 1 – Victoria Jones and Alex Gustafson, Class 2 – Will Byler and Darin Dollahite, Class 3 – Alex Gustafson and Kaleigh Anderson, Class 4 – Kaleigh Anderson and Will Byler, and Class 5 – Victoria Jones and Kaleigh Anderson. Showmanship winners for the goat show were Victoria Jones and Alex Gustafson.

On Saturday, the day began with the steer show, where Kaleigh Anderson won Grand Champion with her Champion European steer. Quaid Haack was then selected Reserve Grand Champion with his Champion British steer. Other breed and reserve breed champions were: Kaleigh Anderson - Champion Brahman and Quaid Haack - Reserve Champion Brahman; Quaid Haack - Champion American and Kaleigh Anderson - Reserve Champion American; Shelby Moore - Reserve Champion British and Victoria Jones - Reserve Champion European. Showmanship winners in the steer show were Katie Baker and Keaton Dodd.

Finally, this year’s show concluded with the hogs, where Keaton Dodd exhibited the Grand Champion with his Champion Cross and Claire Klepac followed with Reserve Grand Champion and her Reserve Champion Cross. Other students exhibiting champions and reserves included: Paige Green - Champion Duroc and Susannah Campbell - Reserve Champion Duroc; Keaton Dodd - Champion Hampshire and Claire Klepac - Reserve Champion Hampshire; Logan Dodd - Champion Yorkshire and Jacob Robinson - Reserve Champion Yorkshire; Logan Dodd - Champion OPB and Joanna Delavan - Reserve Champion OPB. Showmanship winners for the pigs were be Logan Dodd and Quaid Haack.

Once again, this year’s show proved to be a huge success thanks in part to the many sponsors and volunteers, as well as the Blanco FFA officers and members. Judges for this year’s show included Ronnie Lumpkins of Harper, judging the sheep and goats and Brandon Fizer of Schertz, judging the steers and hogs.

Advisors for the Blanco FFA and Blanco Junior FFA are Jason and Felice Marek.