Central Catholic gets the Blue Ribbon

Elisabeth Watkins
Central Catholic Future Farmers of America (FFA) hit the jackpot this time. Thirty-nine members exhibited livestock, everything from dairy and beef, goats, sheep, poultry, turkeys, swine, and rabbits, at the 2018 Stanislaus County Fair in Turlock. The fair ran from Friday, July 13th through Sunday, July 18th, but the FFA’ers were hard at work before then.

In the dairy replacement show, the chapter’s own Vice President, Ben Shinkwin, won Supreme Champion Replacement Heifer. He had this to say about being a first-time livestock exhibitor and a city kid at that, “My first year of showing was truly remarkable and a very humbling experience revealing to me just a small portion of how much hard work and dedication it takes to be successful in such a competitive event.”

Central Catholic’s success didn’t stop there. Kristi Johnson, a third-year member of the program, won Champion FFA Hampshire with her market swine project. Bianca and Ashley Sams both won first place in their swine cross bred classes.

Central Catholic’s small animal exhibitors did exceptionally well with Lena MaGee winning Best in Breed for her Himalayan rabbits, Reserve in Show with her cavy, and to top it off, winner of Advanced Cavy Showmanship. Samantha Rodgers won Senior Doe Breed Champion with her rabbit.

Much of the chapter’s success is do to the direction of Nicole Morris and Jessica Jordan, chapter advisors. Central Catholic is embarking on year five as a chartered chapter, and by the looks of things, they are unstoppable.
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    • Kristi Johnson is showing her Champion FFA Market Hampshire pig.

    • Ben Shinkwin and Advisor Nicole Morris pose with the Supreme Champion Dairy Replacement Heifer.