Fourteen students from the Sweet Springs FFA chapter showed hogs at the Central District FFA Fair on Monday, July 14. For the second year in a row the chapter was awarded the Swine Sweepstakes Award for having the most entries. Pictured in the front row from left are: Cierra Clevenger, Brooke Schliecher, Lauren Fuehring, Taylor Loges, Kyle Fuehring, Anthon Smith and Aaron Schlatweiler. Back row are Shelby Hayworth, Morgan Fuehring, Brent Boland, Chris Clevenger, David Hall and Trent Charles. Not pictured is Cole Nowland. (Marcia Gorrell/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

The Saline County Fairground was full of people, animals and exhibits on Monday, July 14, as students from 55 schools came for the FFA Central District Fair. Several local students placed well in the district fair which continues today.

For the second consecutive year, the Sweet Springs FFA chapter took the Swine Sweepstakes award, as 14 members exhibited at least one hog. Two individual members also won awards: Taylor Loges, for swine Showmanship and Brent Boland for High Point Individual.

Two Slater FFA members did well in the swine show with Scott Leimkuehler showing the Grand Champion Market Hog, while Katie Tyre had the Reserve Grand Champion Hog.

Tyre also had the Grand Champion Gilt, while Loges showed the Reserve Grand Champion Gilt.

A Marshall FFA member once again did very well in this year's Sheep show as Marshall High School senior Jade Jenkins showed the Grand Champion Market Lamb, Grand Champion Ewe and Grand Champion Buck. She also won the Showmanship award. Dillon Johnson of Windsor showed the Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb. Jake Mackeprang of Appleton City FFA exhibited the Reserve Champion Ewe.

Allison Wagoner and Elizabeth Wagoner of Crest Ridge showed 14 sheep between them to take home the Chapter Sweepstakes Award for their chapter. Allison was the High Point Individual.

Kevin Duncan of Columbia judged both shows.

In the Rabbit Show, Marshall FFA member Brandon Vogel, a sophomore, had the Grand Champion Meat Rabbit pen, while Abbey Innes, Boonville FFA, and Haley Innes took home the Champion Small Animal Exhibit.

Abbey, a college sophomore, and Haley, a high school freshman, brought 30 rabbits to the show. They took home Best in Show with a Mini Lop and Best Opposite Breed with a French Lop.

In the Poultry Show, first time exhibitor Sarah Kegley of Wellington-Napoleon won the Champion Poultry Exhibit.

Recent high school graduates Eshau Griffin and Ashley Vaughn of Southeast at Manual High School in Kansas City won Best of Show in Waterfowl.

In the Meat Goat show, Morgan Beach of Pilot Grove won the Grand Champion Meat Goat, while Brittany Haase of Cole Camp showed the Reserve Grand Champion. Dylan Carver of Cole Camp won the Showmanship Award.

Cole Camp also took home the Chapter Sweepstakes Award. Marshall native Scott Dehn judged that show.

In the Horse Show, Slater FFA member Julissa Monnig had the Champion Mare and Kim Rieckhoff of LaMonte won the Champion Halter Gelding.

Jessica Patterson of Knob Noster won Showmanship. The Chapter Sweepstakes Award went to Pleasant Hill.

The Vanderlinden Building was full of crops, plants, vegetables and various other FFA projects.

In Hams, the East Kansas City High School FFA chapter took the Sweepstakes Award and Willie Romero won Champion Ham.

In the Agriculture Mechanics exhibits, which were displayed south of the multi-purpose building, the Grand Champion award went to Sam Rittman of Warrensburg. Reserve Champion went to Zach Fuffel.