BY Kevin Tatum
GEORGIA JUNIOR NATIONAL LIVESTOCK SHOWS
As I write this, I have just returned from Perry the last two days where we were getting animals weighed in and ready for show as well as the showmanship classes for the market hogs yesterday. We had some good looking 4-H members exhibiting their animals!
The market hog showmanship classes were all held on Thursday, Feb. 22. They started with 12th grade and worked back to 9th grade, then started with 4th grade up to 8th grade. Because there are so many participants in each grade level, they are divided into smaller groups called heats and then a few are picked from each heat to be in the final drive for showmanship winners. Our only 12th grade 4-H’er to show was Anna Grace Grantham. She was penned along with a couple of other kids in her heat. In the winner’s drive, she was placed tenth out of all of the 12th graders competing.
In tenth grade showmanship, Cameron Kirkland caught the judge’s eye and stayed there. He got picked during his heat and came back and won first place in the tenth grade showmanship championship drive. Later in the day, Cameron and Anna Grace were brought back in the ring for the 4-H Master Showman drive in which a 4-H member is selected as a Master Showman. These students who come back in the ring are the two highest placing 4-H members from each of the 9th through 12th grade showmanship classes. Cameron again managed to keep his hog right where the judge thought he should be each time. Congratulations to Cameron on becoming the 4-H Master Showman and earning Master 4-H status with Georgia 4-H.
In ninth grade showmanship, Kara Morgan earned a seventh place standing. In seventh grade, Emma Morgan brought home an eighth place award. In fifth grade, Abby Dockery earned a seventh place award and Dillon Smith earned 3rd place. In fourth grade, Ava Morgan caught the eighth place title.
I know that the FFA members were also having a great day as well. I wasn’t able to keep a record of all of their placings, but I would like to congratulate all of the 4-H and FFA members for doing a great job in showmanship at the State Market Hog Show.
The show is still going on, so we will try to update you on the placings for the students in their weight classes in the near future.
In 4-H, we also have Taylor Medders participating in the State Heifer Show. Coffee County 4‑H also has four participants participating in the Breeding Doe Show this weekend. They are Cole Carver, Riley Jo Polk, Jonathan Sayer and Joshua Sayer.
PET THERAPY VISITATION
The next visitation day for Pet Therapy will be Monday, March 5, from 4 to 4:30 P.M. at Vista Park (Shady Acres). 4-H members are reminded to bring their friendly, vaccinated pets and their beautiful smile to share with the residents. 4-H members earn 25 points towards the 4-H reward trip.
If you would like to learn how you can become more involved with the Coffee County 4-H program, please contact the Coffee County Extension office at (912) 384-1402 or visit our website at http://coffee4h.org.
In fifth grade showmanship, Dillon Smith earned 3rd place
In ninth grade showmanship, Kara Morgan earned a seventh place standing.
In fifth grade showmanship, Abby Dockery earned a seventh place award.
Our only 12th grade 4-H’er to show was Anna Grace Grantham. She was penned along with a couple of other kids in her heat. In the winner’s drive, she was placed tenth out of all of the 12th graders competing.
Congratulations to Cameron on becoming the 4-H Master Showman and earning Master 4-H status with Georgia 4-H.
In seventh grade, Emma Morgan brought home an eighth place award.