By Ava Sneller and Gracie Hodges, Chapter Reporters | Special to the Times Vedette
The Iowa State Fair is the largest single event in our state and also is one of the oldest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country. This year, nine ACGC FFA members participated in this event, presenting their hard work and dedication toward their projects. Four of these members were in the breeding beef show, exhibiting their heifer projects. Hunter Kress exhibited the champion High Maine breeding heifer, receiving multiple awards along with a purple ribbon for his project. Gracie and Blake Hodges both received a blue ribbon and fourth place in their respective classes with their Simmental heifer classes. Blake Hodges also placed in the top 10 as a Junior Beef Showman. Stella Largent exhibited her Angus heifer project, receiving a blue ribbon and placed in the top 10 Senior Beef Showman. The chapter also received a blue ribbon honor for herdsmanship as well.
Two of the nine members participated in the breeding and market swine shows on Thursday and Friday of the fair. Rylee Robson exhibited her commercial breeding gilt and received second in her class with a purple ribbon. Lilly Rochholz received all blues with her three exhibits, two in the commercial breeding gilt classes and one in the market barrow show. In the sheep show, Jarrett McClain exhibited seven of his projects at the fair. Both of his market wethers received a purple ribbon placing fifth and sixth in their classes. His market ewe received a blue ribbon. During the breeding sheep show, two of his breeding ewes received a purple ribbon, placing second and fourth while the other two received blue ribbons. Lilah Heinz exhibited her broiler project and received third overall with a blue ribbon and a blue for herdsmanship as well. Rounding out our chapter exhibitors, Calleigh Wolfe took two photos to the fair and received a red and white ribbon for her two projects in the Animals-Birds and Wildlife projects and Tractor Class.