Champions crowned at Indiana State Fair 4-H Grand Drive

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Several exhibitors finished as Grand and Reserve Grand Champions at the Indiana Farmers Coliseum on August 5, during the 2018 Indiana State Fair Grand Drive presented by Farm Credit Mid-America.

At the event, 4-H members showed livestock of various species, weights and classes. Categories included Dairy Steer, Meat Goat Wether, Sheep, Rabbit Meat Pen, Market Barrow, Beef Heifer and Beef Steer.

The Grand Champions are:

•Dairy Steer: Kale Beer, Class 1

•Meat Goat Wether: Spencer Goattemiller, Heavyweight

•Market Sheep: Lane Slaton, Blackface Cross

•Rabbit Meat Pen: Brooke Kneubuhler

•Market Barrow: Hadley Hendrickson, Crossbred

•Beef Heifer: Mercedes Ferree, Angus

•Beef Steer:  Hadley Hendrickson, Crossbred

Reserve Grand Champions are:

•Meat Goat Wether: Maxwell Scamihorn, Middleweight

•Sheep: Gabrielle Raute, Reserve Blackface Cross

•Market Barrow: Lakyn Mauck, Berkshire

•Beef Heifer: Addison Walther

•Beef Steer: Harlee Henney, Reserve Crossbred

Approximately $100,000 is raised by the Indiana State Fair Foundation, the Indiana State Fair’s nonprofit arm, to provide monetary awards for winners. Top-placing 4-H members will be recognized for their hard work at the Celebration of Champions event August 19 at the Coliseum.

Ohio Christmas Tree group awards Graham a scholarship

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FRAZEYSBURG, Ohio — The Ohio Christmas Tree Assoc. (OCTA) has selected Chelsea Graham of Licking County as the recipient of its scholarship.

Graham is a graduate of Licking Valley High School, where she served as the class president for three years and was a member of the Student Council, National Honor Society, Student Leadership Team and Senior Leader.

She also participated in the school’s basketball program for two years and served as a coach for the biddy league program. She participated in the College Credit Plus Program in high school, as well, and was involved in the Valley Traditions 4-H Club, serving as president for the past three years.

Her 4-H projects ranged from the livestock area to the special interest area. As a member of the 4-H program, she was a member of the Food and Fashion Board and represented the county at the Ohio State Fair, where she won Outstanding of the Day and the Clock trophy award many times.

Graham is beginning Bradford College this fall to obtain a degree as a veterinarian technician.

Michigan Ag in the Classroom gets grant for FARM Labs

PALM COAST, Fla. — The National Agriculture in the Classroom Organization (NAITCO) has selected six state Agriculture in the Classroom projects for funding as part of a competitive program called “Fire-Up Grants” to support the growth of agricultural literacy in K-12 classrooms across the country.

Funding for the competitive grants program came from the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Projects selected for funding include a Jump Up Grant to Michigan Farm Bureau’s Agriculture in the Classroom.

This will fund regional workshops to train educators to run the mobile FARM Science Labs developed by the Michigan AITC program, which travel to schools across the state to educate K-5 students about Michigan agriculture.