For the second straight year, the Blanco FFA hosted its annual chapter show at the Blanco High School Agricultural Science Building on Friday, December 18 and Saturday, December 19. As was the case with last year’s show, this year’s show proved to be a huge success, with over 100 local FFA members participating.

Following the school’s early release for the holidays on Friday, Marion High School Ag Science teacher Justin Missildine judged the sheep, goats, and steers that afternoon and evening. In the lamb show, Blanco Jr. FFA member Dalton Savanich won Grand and Reserve Grand Champion honors with his Champion and Reserve Champion Medium Wool sheep. Other breed and reserve breed champions included: Alex Gustafson – Champion Southdown, Tyler Hardin – Reserve Southdown, Mindy Dechert – Champion Fine Wool and Cross, Trevor Hardin – Reserve Fine Wool, and Joanna Delavan – Reserve Cross. After the grand and reserve grand drive, Alex Gustafson returned to the ring to win the champion showmanship buckle for the lamb show, while Tyler Hardin took home the reserve showmanship buckle.

In the goat show, senior Kaleigh Anderson’s class winners from class 4 and 1 were selected as the Grand and Reserve Grand Champion goats of the show. Other class champions and reserves included: Hanna Garrett – Reserve Class 1 and Champion Class 2, Dalton Savanich – Reserve Class 2, Kaleigh Anderson – Champion and Reserve Class 3, and Lauren Winn – Reserve Class 4. Champion and reserve showmanship buckles went to Jr. FFA members Kristen Bowman and Ryan Edwards respectively.

Finally, Friday’s show closed with senior Quaid Haack winning the Grand Champion steer buckle with his Champion European Cross. Junior Kylie Leachman followed with her Reserve European Cross being named the Reserve Grand Champion of the show. Quaid Haack exhibited the Champion American Breed, while Tanner Reddout showed the Reserve American. Showmanship winners for the steer show included Kaleigh Anderson winning the champion buckle and Quaid Haack being named reserve.

Saturday morning would see the pigs move in, as this year’s hog show proved to be the largest to date. James Madison High School Ag Science teacher Melvin Pouncy served as the pig judge and selected Quaid Haack’s Champion York as the Grand Champion of the show and Logan Dodd’s Champion Hamp as the Reserve Grand Champion. Other breed and reserve champions included: Maggie Reininger – Champion Duroc, Kaleigh Anderson – Reserve Duroc, Keaton Dodd – Reserve Hampshire, Asher Haack – Reserve Yorkshire, TJ Raby – Champion OPB, Carly Haack – Reserve OPB, Quaid Haack – Champion Cross, and Logan Dodd – Reserve Cross. The hog show finally came to a conclusion with Jr. FFA member Logan Dodd winning champion showmanship honors and Kaleigh Anderson being selected reserve.

The Blanco FFA would like to recognize the following supporters for their contributions to this year’s show: Anne Holt and Holt Oaks Ranch, Blanco Bowling Club, Spring Branch Water Well, Blanco County Farm Bureau, Napa Auto Parts, Security State Bank, K & C Supply, J & L Hog Farm, Riley’s BBQ, Marek Club Calves, The Duvall Family, Tim and Becky Guler, Monica McCormick, Sandy Garrett, and Pat Baker. The support of these individuals and several other volunteers proved to make this year’s show another successful event for numerous Blanco FFA members.