|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight on Youth - Aug. 31, 2011 |
|
|
|
Illinois State Fair selects youth grand champions
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A succession of wins, first for his class and then for his division, at the Illinois State Fair Junior Meat Goat Show brought Dylan Hummel and his wether, Kelly, into the Grand Champion drive.
“I was just hoping I had him looking good,” the 12-year-old Hummel said as he waited for the judge to choose a winner.
As the judge shook Hummel’s hand, selecting him as grand champion, cheers erupted in the show ring.
“I was so happy and so excited,” Hummel said. He was soon surrounded by family and friends, including his brother and two sisters that also show livestock.
Hummel, of Cabery, is a member of the County South Beef 4-H and has been showing for two years.. His wether will be sold in Tuesday’s Sale of Champions, an auction of prize-winning junior livestock. Hummel said he plans to put the money he receives into a college fund.
Levi Cooley and his wether, Ted, was selected Reserve Grand Champion. Cooley, 14, a New Salem resident, is a member of the Griggsville 4-H. He has been showing for six years and exhibited the 2010 Grand Champion Meat Goat Wether.
Bodee Schlipf, of El Paso will join Hummel in the sale. Schlipf and his 263-pound, crossbred barrow, Rudy, took top marks at the junior barrow show.
“I was confident,” Schlipf said. “(But) there was a lot of pressure.”
The 16-year-old Schlipf has been showing pigs and cattle for eight years now. He had the Reserve Grand Champion Barrow at the state fair a year ago.
“I like workin’ with the pigs every day,” Schlipf said.
His hard work paid off. He will use proceeds from the Sale of Champions to pay for his pigs and their feed bill. He is a member of the El Paso Champions 4-H Club and the El Paso-Gridley FFA Chapter. Lucas Wisnefski and his 28-pound, crossbred barrow, Bruiser, were selected Reserve Grand Champion. A 13-year-old from Wyoming, Ill., Wisnefski has been showing for seven years.
Marion County Farm Bureau awards ag scholarships
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Marion County Farm Bureau recently awarded the Stanley Smith Memorial Agricultural Scholarship to Daniel Sweeney of Indianapolis.
Sweeney is a graduate of Cardinal Ritter High School and he will attend Purdue University in the fall to begin studies in plant breeding and genetics. He is the son of Patrick and Alice Sweeney.
Stanley Smith was a Marion County farmer and member of Marion County Farm Bureau, Inc. He served as Marion County Farm Bureau president for 12 years & Franklin Township Farm Bureau president for 15 years, while also serving agriculture in many other capacities throughout his community. Stanley passed away in early 2010, and this scholarship has been established in his honor by the Marion County Farm Bureau.
Maricela Aviles was given the Marion County Farm Bureau Scholarship for 2011. Aviles is a graduate of Emmerich Manual High School and she will begin studying animal sciences at Purdue University in the fall.
Michigan youth head to national meat judging contests
Samantha Griffith, Maritza Hernandez, Courtney Souva, and Katie Walters have proven they know what they’re talking about when it comes to judging meat quality, yield and preparation. In April, these four local freshmen competed in the Michigan State Meats Judging contests in the 4-H and FFA divisions.
After being crowned state champions at both events, their team was invited to compete in October for the National Meats Judging titles.
Melissa Souva, acts as their coach and works twice weekly with the team to prepare them for the competition ahead. Both events will require a thorough understanding of beef, lamb and pork carcasses. The team must identify 40 retail cuts of meat, yield and quality grading, and give an oral response to meat-related questions.
Griffith, Hernandez, Souva and Walters are likely to be found in the community as they evaluate carcasses and wholesale cuts at local meat processing facilities and grocery stores. According to their coach, the team is dedicated and full of promise. The biggest thing holding them back is the funding to compete.
The National FFA Convention will be held in Indianapolis, Ind., in October. A few days later, the team would travel to Manhattan, Kan., to compete in the National 4-H Contest.
Donations or contributions from local businesses, 4-H supporters, or individuals would greatly be appreciated to help offset these Branch County FFA and St. Joseph County 4-H members.
Contact Melissa Souva at 269-489-9888 for information. |
| 9/1/2011 |
|
|
