Despite not having the annual LaSalle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair, which always had the Section 7 FFA competition on the first day of fair week, the Section 7 FFA students were able to have a two-evening competition at the Seneca High School Land Lab. With the results are the Section 7 Reporter – Levi Maierhofer of Seneca, Section 7 President Kara Freebairn of Serena, and Section 7 Treasurer Ben DuMais of Woodland.
Section 7 FFA held a two-day Supervised Agricultural Experience Exposition recently at the Seneca High School Land Lab. The Expo was conducted with strict safety regulations in place due to concerns over Cover-19 that was responsible for the cancellation of traditional fairs throughout the midwest. Only one species was allowed on the grounds at a time, masks were required by exhibitors, and each student was allowed only one guest. There were over 250 exhibits during the two days.
Fair organizers were very appreciative of the LaSalle County Junior Fair Board who sponsored the outdoor sanitation facilities. Also, Siedentop Showpigs and Brothers Country Supply for providing the wood shavings for the show arena.
Below is a review of the winners.
Breeding Swine– Hailee Dannenberg of Newark had Grand Champion Female in the breeding swine division and took first in many breed classes, including Duroc January Gilt. Peyton Weber of Seneca won the Crossbred Gilt class and received Reserve Grand Champion Gilt. Serena’s Lane Anderson won the Dark AOB January Gilt class. Alicia Hendron of Somonauk-Leland-Sandwich received Reserve Crossbred Gilt.
Market Swine – Hailee Dannenberg was also the big winner in the barrow show with the grand champion. Jaron Black of Streator had the reserve grand champion.
Swine showmanship was won by Hailee Dannenberg. Others exhibiting swine included Carter Westphal and Gwyneth O’Connell of Newark, Jessica Carlson of Somonauk, and Hueston Willson and Jaiden Mahler of Serena.
Sheep – Nick Angus of Ottawa was a huge winner in the sheep division. He won Grand Champion Ewe, Ram, Mixed Breeding Pair, Pair of Ewe Lambs and Market Lamb. Ashleigh Collins of Mendota had the reserve grand champion pair of ewe lambs and Jaron Black of Streator had the reserved mixed pair of lambs. Kylee Zoran of Ottawa exhibited the champion Hampshire ewe. Other sheep exhibitors included Jaiden Mahler, Peyton Weber, Jolie Johsson, and Madison Bromberek
Angus also won the sheep showmanship class with Zoran being the runner-up.
Meat Goats – Hueston Wilson of Serena and Ella Robson of Seneca were the meat goat exhibitors. Wilson had the Grand Champion meat goat and Robson the reserve with their yearling does.
Dairy Cattle – Lauren McNelis, Braxton Hart, and Bradley Armour of Serena brought a highly qualified group of Holstein dairy cattle. McNelis was the big winner with Grand and Reserve Champion Dairy Female and Dairy Showmanship. Armour was the runner-up showman.
Dairy Goats – Jessica Carlson of Somonauk exhibited a very competitive string of dairy goats and claimed all of the awards and grand champion honors.
Breeding Beef – Jaiden Mahler of Serena had the Grand Champion Beef Female with her Angus heifer and Kara Freebairn of Serena had the reserve grand champion with her simmental heifer. Other breed champions were Cole Freebairn in the crossbred division, Wayde Collins of Mendota with a Hereford, and Jolie Johnson of Newark with her Angus and “all other breeds” heifers. Reserve champion breed champions were Wilson Widman of Seneca with a Hereford, Ally Utegg of Ottawa with a Shorthorn, Kara Freebairn, crossbred, and Cole Freebairn, all other breeds.
Market Beef – The steer show was won by Jolie Johnson of Newark and reserve with Breed winners were Mahler with the champion Shorthorn, Johnson with the champion All Other Breeds and Paige Baudino of Seneca with the champion crossbred.
Kara Freebairn of Serena won the beef showmanship award with Wayde Collins of Mendota being named the runner-up.
Horses– Shelby Einhaus of Ottawa won the horse Grand Champion and Showmanship honors. Einhaus also competed in the gaming classes, including barrel racing, plugging, and reining Pattern.
Vegetables– Newark’s Ty Steffen took Grand Champion in Vegetables with his basket display of vegetables. Steffen also won several vegetable classes, including beets, eggplant, and onions. Streator’s Brandon Talty won multiple classes, including carrots and potatoes. Trevor Talty and Joshua Carr of Streator received several class runner-ups. Hannah Marshall and Chloe Wiborg of Seneca each excelled in several herb classes, including sage, parsley, chives and thyme. Levi Maierhofer of Seneca won four vegetable classes, including kohlrabi and green beans. Calvin Maierhofer of Seneca also had a strong showing in the vegetable exhibition.
Rabbits – Three students exhibited rabbits with top honors going to Bradley Armour of Serena as he won both Best of Show and Best Opposite with his buck and doe respectively. Madison Bromberek of Seneca and Benjamin DuMais of Woodland were the other rabbit exhibitors.
Poultry – Best of Show in the poultry division was claimed by Emma Smith of Seneca with a beautiful pair of ducks. Smith also exhibited the champion meat bird and the champion turkeys.
Autumn Massier of Serena showed the grand champion female poultry and Amal Abushnab of Seneca picked up the reserve. Massier also had the reserve grand champion male fowl.
Hailey Kennedy of Seneca brought the champion eggs.
Other poultry exhibitors were Madison Bromberek and Spencer DeGraaf of Seneca and Taylor Austin of Streator.
Miscellaneous– Two students exhibited projects in the miscellaneous category. Calvin Maierhofer of Seneca won the Champion Miscellaneous Exhibit with his woodworking project. Forest Stuedemann of Seneca was Reserve Champion with his conservation project.
For More information:
Levi Maierhofer
Section 7 FFA Reporter
2021300@senecahs.org