Leigh FFA Excels at the State Fair
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By: Makenna Held, Junior
Nothing could stop the 2020 Nebraska State Fair from happening, not even Covid-19.
Split into two weekends, with 4-H on the first weekend and FFA on the second, the State fair was held from Aug. 28-Sept. 7, 2020. The crowds were much smaller than previous years, and there was no carnival or concerts, but that didn’t stop the youth.
There were six competitors from the Leigh FFA chapter. These six include seventh-grader Quentin Mullenhoff showing pigs; eighth-grader Kammy Held showing cattle; freshmen James Grotelueschen showing sheep and Taya Hambleton showing pigs, sheep, and goats; junior Makenna Held showing cattle; and senior Riana Grotelueschen showing sheep.
Riana Grotelueschen, a senior, said the event was full of emotion for her.
“My last year showing at the Nebraska State Fair was a good one to end on,” Grotelueschen said. “I am proud of how I did with all of my breeding ewes. I will definitely miss showing and the memories I made at past fairs.”
Alyssa Went, in her first year as Leigh High School FFA Advisor said, "It was a record year! I am so proud of these kids for all of their hard work that they have put into their projects!"
The full FFA results are as follows:
Makenna Held: 2nd Purple Market Steer; Kammy Held: 5th Purple Market Heifer; Taya Hambleton: Supreme Champion Breeding Doe, Reserve Supreme Champion Breeding Doe, Grand Champion Commercial Doe, Reserve Champion Commercial Doe, Class-winning Middleweight Market Lamb, 2nd place Market Goat, Finalist in Swine Showmanship, Finalist in Sheep Showmanship, 3rd Place Duroc Barrow; Quentin Mullenhoff: Grand Champion Market Gilt, Reserve Supreme Market Swine, Champion Crossbred Gilt, Champion Division 1 Gilt, Reserve Champion Market Barrow, Champion Division 3 Crossbred Gilt; Riana Grotelueschen: 2nd Purple Breeding Dorset Ewe Lamb, 2nd Purple Breeding Dorset Yearling Ewe, Blue Breeding Hampshire Ewe Lamb; James Grotelueschen: 3rd Purple Breeding Dorset Ewe Lamb, 3rd Purple Breeding Dorset Yearling Ewe
The FFA chapter would also like to give a special shout-out to the competitors from the 4-H weekend, including Taya Hambleton, James Grotelueschen, Carmen Malena, Quentin Mullenhoff, Trevor Zulkoski, Dalton Zulkoski, Nevaeh Zulkoski, and Cody Jedlicka.
Highlights from the 4-H weekend from Leigh FFA members include:
Taya Hambleton: Supreme Champion Breeding Doe, Grand Champion Senior Goat Showman, Grand Champion Commercial Doe, Finalist in Sheep Showmanship, Class-winning Crossbred Market Lamb, 2nd Place Market Goat, Class-winning Market Goat, Class-winning Breeding Doe, & 2nd Place Hampshire Ewe; Quentin Mullenhoff: Champion Market Barrow, Supreme Champion Market Swine, Champion Division 2 Barrow, & Reserve Champion Division 3 Barrow; Carmen Malena: Reserve Intermediate Swine Showman, Reserve Champion Division 3 Barrow, & 3rd Overall Division 2 Gilt