This year’s annual Churchill County Junior Livestock Show and Sale features a number of youthful exhibitors who have years of experience in showing their animals. The 82nd annual event returns to the fairgrounds this weekend after relying on an internet virtual show last year due to restrictions implemented due to the coronavirus pandemic. Local 4-H and FFA students from both Churchill County High School and Oasis Academy will show their animals beginning Thursday.
According to Karen Bogdanowicz, a community-based instructor with the University of Nevada, Reno’s Extension program in Fallon, said the format will follow prior livestock shows and sales. Thursday, she said exhibitors will bring their breeding animas for show, and during the evening, market animals will be weighed.
Friday offers the market animal format, and Saturday includes a show in the morning and then the auction at 1 p.m. Bogdanowicz said the exhibitors will show their market swine, lamb, goat and cows before entering the showmanship phase on Friday. Prior to the auction at 12:30 p.m., Bogdanowicz said there will be a presale of cakes and pies.
As for the final day, she said a complete round ribbon begins at 9 a.m. Judges grade exhibitors for showmanship, and she said the overall winners in each livestock category are announced on Saturday. She said an appreciation dinner will not be held this year because of COVID-19.
Steve Ranson/LVN, file The annual Churchill County Junior Livestock Show and Sale returns to the fairgrounds after conducting its 2020 event on the internet. Annual livestock show returns to fairgrounds
Although the number of exhibitors and attendees may be because of COVID-19 requirements, she said the county 4-H programs and the two FFA programs at Oasis Academy and Churchill County High School continue to create interest among students to raise and show their animals.
Hunter and Hailey Arends are longtime exhibitors. Hunter Arends is a junior at Oasis Academy and is a member of FFA. He has shown livestock for eight years.
“I am raising a turkey to sell at the Churchill County show,” he said in his exhibitor biography.
Hunter said FFA has developed him into a leader and taught the Fallon junior with many invaluable lessons.
Haley said she’s selling a white-breasted turkey. The Oasis Academy eight grader also belongs to FFA and has shown livestock for six years. Both Hailey and Hunter said they would like to earn their chapter degree.
Angel Arteaga, a Churchill County High School junior, has shown livestock for eight years. The Fallon junior is a member of her school’s FFA chapter, and said FFA has introduced her to amazing people and taught her many things through agriculture She is bringing two lambs to the show.
“It’s my first year doing a homegrown market project,” she said in her exhibitor biography.
Wilhelmina Albaugh said this is her final year of both 4H and FFA. The CCHS senior has shown livestock for eight years. She is showing a steer, a purebred grassfed shorthorn.
Steve Ranson/LVN, file Josh Gusewelle grooms his goat before the 2019 show.
During the years she has been involved with the livestock show and FFA, Albaugh said she would like to become an FFA teacher. Another FFA member from CCHS is Caitlyn Dock, a freshman. She has shown livestock for four years, and this year’s project is a black angus steer. Dock also belongs to 4-H.
“Both of these clubs have helped me become a leader an overall better person,” she said. “They have taught me to be responsible and dependable.”
A sixth-grader at Logos Christian Academy, Ava Bunyard, has shown livestock for four years. She is a member of the 4-H club, Hot Wings. She is bringing a lamb and rooster to the show.
“I love showing in the arena because it helps me not to be scared of being judged,” she said in her profile. “It has helped me to be a good winner and loser. It’s prepared me by giving me responsibility by taking care of my animal.”
Abby Bird has shown livestock for two years. The Oasis Academy fifth-grader has three lambs and two goats.
“When I grow up, I want to be a (veterinarian),” she wrote. “My last two years in 4-H taught me how to care for and train sheep and goats. I’ve learned about the best feed, shelter and care from my leaders.”
Garrett Bartel has shown livestock for one year. The Numa Elementary School fourth-grader belongs to the Baconators, and his current project has evolved around a pig named Sophie.
By taking care of a pig, Bartel said he has learned more about responsibility.
Steve Ranson/LVN, file
Steve Ranson/LVN, file