Fallbrook fares well at fair

Fallbrook 4-H, Grange and FFA members were well represented in the champion rounds and other events at the 2008 San Diego County Fair.

Beginning with opening weekend at the fair, the barns were filled with goats, cattle, sheep, swine, rabbits, poultry and more to give the citizens of our county a glimpse into the livestock found throughout.

Breed Week was marked by the 4-H goat group showing their dairy and pygmy goats for awards and then Market Week began.

Groups from all over the county moved into the stables of the fairgrounds, camping and mingling with others. The parents were there to oversee but it was all about the kids and animals as members paraded their animals in front of judges. When they were awarded a blue ribbon, they earned the right to sell the animal in the annual Junior Livestock Auction.

This fair was highlighted by Fallbrook youth who made it to the Grand Champion round, which occurred on Wednesday, July 3. The top 4-H/Grange and FFA animals of each species competed for the title of overall Grand and Reserve Champion.

This year Andrew Valencia of Fallbrook 4-H was the winner of Grand Champion market swine with his 275-pound crossbred hog.

The goat finale was made up of first year member Taryn Sehnert showing her county bred goat against FFA members Kayla James and Christine Russell. Taryn’s goat was chosen as the best in the fair.

Kelsey Adams (FFA) had the Reserve Champion Rabbits and Emily Kilcrease (4-H) won with her Chicken Meat Pen.

After the auction on the Fourth of July, the youth were still busy competing for showmanship awards (the exhibitor’s skill at showing the animal is ranked). Being chosen as the best showman allows the member to enter the round robin contest called master showmanship.

Each exhibitor tries his hand at showing each type of animal present. For example, you may be a great swine showman but now you have to show sheep, goats and cattle. Other members competed in knowledge contests and specialty contests where they make outfits for themselves and their animals.

Fallbrook 4-H had a talent show Saturday night highlighted by a slideshow of the week. Ultimately, it was a great experience for all and everyone certainly appreciated the Fallbrook community once again supporting our youth at the auction.

Congratulations to all the 4-H/Grange/FFA members who showed at the fair! Thanks to all the buyers and hope to see you next year!

Fallbrook 4-H fair results

Sheep

Melissa Morrison: 4-H/Grange AOB Champion

Michele Valencia: 4-H/Grange AOB Reserve Champion

Fallbrook 4-H: First place pen of three

Melissa Morrison: Third place Wool ’n Ewe

Casie Philley: Second place Bred & Fed

Hailey Hicks: Third place Bred & Fed

Kimberley Beier: Fourth place Bred & Fed

Taylor Stites: Fifth place Bred & Fed

Swine

Andrew Valencia: Grand Champion Market Swine

Montana Massone: 4-H/Grange Reserve Champion Yorkshire

Shaun Kilcrease: First place Jr. Swine Showmanship

Rebecca Holzer: First place Jr. Pigs ’n Plaid

Jordan Bretsch: First place Sr. Pigs ’n Plaid

Melissa Morrison: Third place Sr. Pigs ’n Plaid

Shaun Kilcrease: Third place Bred & Fed Swine

Market Goats

Taryn Sehnert: Grand Champion Market Goat, first place Jr. Goat Showmanship

Wade Colburn: Third place Bred & Fed

Dannika Long: Fifth place Bred & Fed

Fallbrook 4-H Goat Group: First place Barn Award

Rabbits

McKenna Massone: Third place Novice Showmanship

Chickens

Emily Kilcrease: Grand Champion Chicken Meat Pen

Master Showmanship

Taryn Sehnert: Third place Jr. Div.

Shaun Kilcrease: Fourth place Jr. Div.

Equine

Lauren Gilbert: First place English Medal Class, first place English Long Stirrup Equitation Senior, first place Trail Open

Tabitha Goetschalackx: First place Western Equitation Green Horse

Knowledge Bowl

Junior Team (first place): Andrew Matthews, Shaun Kilcrease and Montana Massone

Intermediate Team (third place): Benjamin Matthews, Emily Kilcrease and Casie Philley

Senior Team (fourth place): Wade Colburn, Michele Valencia and David Last

Dairy Goat Herders

Malary Greenwood: Second place

Dairy Goat Packing

Audrey Greenwood: Second place

Malary Greenwood: Third place

Additional Participants

Chickens

Shaun Kilcrease

Dairy Goats

Dannika Long

Market Goats

Mackenzie Montgomery

Sheep

Kayla Clift

Walter Philley

Rylie Stites

Matthew Taylor

Swine

Corey Clift

Wade Colburn

Kathryn Drake

Rebecca Holzer

Dillon Kayl

Emily Kilcrease

Dannika Long

Andrew Matthews

Benjamin Matthews

David Salm

Maggie Schmutz

Taryn Sehnert

Jordan Stites

Taylor Stites

Caroline Young

Steer

Nicole Baker