For many, the highlights of the county fair are cotton candy and carnival games, but for members of the Tyrone Area FFA, there is a lot more to look forward to than just food and games.
Tyrone students entered over 300 livestock and non-livestock projects to competitions at the Huntingdon, Clearfield, and Grange Fairs just this year.
As Tyrone Area FFA Advisor Tiffany Hoy always tells her students, “it’s not just cows, plows, and sows,” meaning there is a lot more to agriculture than just farming and livestock.
HUNTINGDON FAIR
At the Huntingdon County Fair, Tyrone Area FFA members competed in many livestock categories, as well as non-livestock categories such as photography, cake decorating, floriculture, gardening, and many more.
Tyrone FFA member Carlie Nowlin entered several of her best photos in the photography competition.
“Photography is one of my biggest passions. This hobby has allowed me to grow through experience and advice from others. I have worked super hard on my photography, and I always love learning new things,” Tyrone FFA member Carlie Nowlin said.
FFA members work hard throughout the year to prepare their projects or livestock for exhibition.
Tyrone senior Bailey Woomer, who showed dairy and dairy beef, had a great week at the Huntingdon County Fair, earning six first-place awards in dairy.
Woomer also won the Grand Champion Senior three-year-old in her Guernsey, and she was the Reserve Grand Champion Guernsey Heifer. In the dairy beef class, she earned third overall in her age group for showmanship, and in her weight class, she earned fourth place.
“I plan on showing a beef cow and adding more to my dairy herd, and hoping I don’t have any dry cows,” Woomer said.
Junior Wyatt Walls earned second in his weight class with his dairy beef and got fifth place in showmanship in his age group. He also assisted Woomer in showing at the dairy show.
“I plan to work on my overall showing skills, and I took away that you have to work hard to do well,” Walls said of his plans for the future.
Junior John Eaken earned a fourth place in showmanship and sixth in his weight class. He also earned an 11th in carcass class with his Market Steer. He showcased his Dairy Beef and earned third place overall in his age group, as well as third in his weight class.
“I plan on working more on my showmanship and going to more jackpot shows to learn more,” Eaken said.
Tyrone sophomore Ryleigh Holmes had a great year at the Huntingdon County fair, as it was his first year showing, and he won Reserve Grand Champion Middleweight Dairy Beef.
Holmes won Reserve Grand Champion in the Middleweight dairy beef category. Showed his dairy beef and earned fifth place in his showmanship class. He also earned second in his middleweight class.
“[I would like to] focus on showmanship and better biosecurity,” Holmes said.
To see the results of all the non-livestock projects, click here.
CLEARFIELD COUNTY FAIR
Tyrone Senior Janice Gilliland showed two goats and two lambs. She won Grand Champion Market goat, Reserve Grand Champion Market goat, and Grand Champion goat showman.
With her lambs, she won Grand Champion market lamb, Reserve Grand Champion market lamb, and Grand Champion lamb showman.
“I plan to show sheep and goats again. I will not change anything,” Gilliland said.
GRANGE FAIR
Tyrone freshman Violet Weaver showed sheep and goats that she earned second in her age group for showmanship, and she earned first and sixth in the weight class with her sheep.
Weaver earned a first in her age group class and second and fourth in the weight class.
“I would like to try new species and work on my showmanship skills with my animals,” Weaver said.
