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Louisiana youth attend livestock, poultry judging trip to Kentucky

Louisiana youth attend livestock, poultry judging trip to Kentucky Writer: Johnny Morgan at 225-578-8484 or jmorgan@agcenter.lsu.edu (12/08/17) BATON ROUGE, La. — A group of Louisiana 4-H and FFA members competed at the North American International Livestock Exposition that was held Oct. 31 to Nov. 16 in Louisville, Kentucky. The students who went to Kentucky were winners of the LSU AgCenter Beef and Sheep Educational Award Trip following wins during the State Fair of Louisiana in Shreveport. Jason Holmes, AgCenter regional livestock specialist in Union Parish and coordinator of the trip, said going to the exposition is a significant accomplishment for 4-H’ers and FFA members. “The purpose of the trip isn’t about winning or losing,” Holmes said. “It’s about the experience of participating in the largest livestock show in North America with fellow exhibitors from Louisiana and building a network of acquaintances that will benefit them for a lifetime.” Louisiana 4-H’ers have attended the North American International Livestock Expo every year since 1974, Holmes said. “There’s history of a beef trip going back to 1946, with Louisiana 4-H’ers attending the Chicago International Livestock Exposition,” he said. Louisiana is also one of the few states from which students can complete an internship at the exposition. “Our 2017 intern was Breann Keowen from West Baton Rouge Parish,” he said. “Interns are selected each year as winners in the AgCenter Beef Premier Exhibitor contest.” The following youth attended the exposition with beef cattle: Paige Cramer and Claire Morgan, Acadia Parish; Avia Laborde and Kelsey Spencer, Avoyelles Parish; Cassidy Sweat and Kagen Midkiff, Beauregard Parish; Austin Grooms, Bossier Parish; Regina Sirman and Shelby Brown, Caddo Parish; Olivia Shepherd and Mary “Claire” Istre, Calcasieu Parish; Daisy Verdin, Daryn Scriber and Trace Morrow, Claiborne Parish; Ashley Pugh, East Feliciana Parish; Alyson Fontenot, Evangeline Parish; Kenedi Darbonne, Iberia Parish; Cody Hanna, Lincoln Parish; Madison Pleasant, Natchitoches Parish; Josey Shuff and Claire Guillory, Rapides Parish; Madison Plaisance, Tangipahoa Parish; Caleb Arnould and Ty Hebert, Vermilion Parish; Cash Bailey and Harlie Harvey, Vernon Parish; and Joseph Lingo, West Carroll Parish. The following youth attended the exposition with sheep: Hannah LeBlanc and Kathryn LeBlanc, Acadia Parish; Makenna Rutherford, Beauregard Parish; Carmen Pickett, Bossier Parish; Zoe Cox, Calcasieu Parish; Grant Trahan, Cameron Parish; Ethan Deshotel, Evangeline Parish; Gabe Maurer, Rapides Parish; and Addy Seay and Joella Seay, Union Parish. The livestock judging contest trains 4-H members in live animal evaluation of breeding and market animals, said AgCenter 4-H livestock specialist Crystal Ahrens. “Experience is gained in developing their speaking ability through the use of oral reasons to justify decisions made during the placings portion of the contest and is often the most beneficial part of the contest,” Ahrens said. Louisiana was represented this year by Chase Nevers, St. Tammany Parish, who was the second high individual in the swine division and the livestock team was the 12th place high team in the swine division. Louisiana 4-H teams and individuals were also winners in the poultry competition at the 2017 National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference held Nov. 14 to17 in Louisville, Kentucky. Louisiana had the seventh overall poultry judging team, with Brooklyn LeBlanc of Assumption Parish as the 12th overall winner. Louisiana won fifth place as the production division team. Members of the team are Maddie Bordelon and Lauren Gauthier, Avoyelles Parish, and Brooklyn LeBlanc and Chaylon Carter, Assumption Parish. Nicholas LeBlanc, of Vermilion Parish, took fourth place in the chicken barbecue contest, and Kody Arton, of Iberia Parish, won eighth in the egg production demonstration contest. David Boldt, LSU AgCenter 4-H youth development instructor, said the conference recognizes senior 4-H members who have excelled in their state 4-H poultry activities. “Our 2017 high point team and individuals in poultry judging at 4-H University along with our 2017 State 4-H Ambassador contest winners are awarded the opportunity to attend the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference at the North American International Livestock Exposition,” Boldt said.