2007 Saline County Fair/Area students take honors during first day of FFA district fair

The Saline County Fairground was abuzz with activity on Monday, July 16, as FFA members from approximately 55 schools came for the Central District FFA Fair to show off their projects ranging from vegetables to ag mechanics to horses.

Several local students fared well in livestock events during the first day of the fair, which continues today.

Katie Tyre, a 2006 graduate of Slater High School showed the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Market Hogs, while fellow Slater class of 2006 graduate Scott Leimkuehler showed the Grand Champion Gilt and won the showmanship competition.

Sweet Springs FFA member Taylor Loges showed the Reserve Grand Champion Gilt and won the High Point Individual Award.

Sweet Springs won the sweepstakes award for the most points in the show. The Sweet Springs chapter had 12 students showing hogs at Tuesday's show.

In the sheep show, Marshall FFA member Jade Jenkins showed the Grand Champion Market Lamb, Grand Champion Ewe and the Grand Champion Buck. Ryan Simms, of Pleasant Hill FFA won the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb, Reserve Grand Champion Ewe and won the showmanship competition.

The Pleasant Hill FFA chapter won the sweepstakes award, with the highest points total of any chapter.

In the Goat show, Elyssa Harris of Cole Camp showed the Grand Champion Market Goat, and High Point Individual, while Wade Tyre, a sophomore with the Marshall FFA Chapter had the Reserve Grand Champion Market Goat and was named the showmanship winner. Cole Camp won the Sweepstakes Award for the most total points.

In the Rabbit Show, Alan Horn, a senior at Nichols Career Center in Jefferson City, won Best of Show, Best of Breed and Best Opposite Breed. He had 14 rabbits at the show. The Small Animal Sweepstakes Award was presented to Pilot Grove FFA.

Riley Anderson, a 2007 graduate of Odessa High School won the Grand Champion Poultry Exhibit, and Grand Champion Chicken. Anderson had nine chickens at the show. He also won the show last year.

In the Horse Show, Ashley Lasswell of Lakeland High School was the Showmanship Winner, while Megan Lee of Pleasant Hill FFA won the Champion Equine Award for the High Point Rider. Lee, who will be a senior, showed two horses at the show. The Pilot Grove chapter won the Chapter Sweepstakes Award.

In Country Cured Hams, Jordyn Musick of Tuscumbia exhibited the Grand Champion Ham, while Jeremy Haley of Eldon FFA showed the Reserve Grand Champion Ham.

In Field Crops, Katie Springer of Pleasant Hill was the high point individual and Pleasant Hill FFA won the Chapter Sweepstakes Award.

The FFA Central District Fair continues today with the beef cattle show and the dairy cattle show.