Hardin Northern FFA members busy at the fair

By CADENCE COY

Hardin Northern FFA

This past week the Hardin County Fair was in full swing with many participants from the Hardin Northern FFA. FFA members participated by showing livestock projects and entering woodworking projects completed in their Ag classes. Each project required extensive preparation and was a reflection of each member’s hard work and effort. This year Hardin Northern FFA had 20 members participate in the fair with livestock. Although everyone did exceptionally well this year there were a few who went above and beyond on their projects this year.

Junior FFA member Clay Rager exhibited the Grand Senior Champion Dairy Cow, also receiving first place for summer yearling and second place in senior showmanship. He also received first place for his five-year-old cow and second place for his two-year-old cow. Senior member Preston Wykes placed first in senior dairy steer showmanship making it to Showman of Showmen Sunday of the fair. Junior member Makenna Eibling placed first in class five and class four born and raised lambs. Then she was awarded Reserve Overall Born and Raised with her lamb. She also placed second in class 4 barrows and second in fifteen-year-old showmanship for hogs. 

Zeb Wilson showed market lambs at the fair this year and was crowned Hardin County Fair King Tuesday night at the ceremony. Zeb shared about his week of the fair by saying, “I loved getting the opportunity to be the Hardin County Fair King this year. It definitely showed me a different side of the fair. From riding in the starter car at the harness races and having front row seats at the rodeo, to being interviewed for the radio and just having conversations with community members, it was an all around great week at the fair.”

Alyssa Heldman also showed a dairy beef feeder this year and was crowned runner-up Hardin County Fair Queen. Katie Good exhibited goats and placed second in class two market goats as well as placing second for the born and raised goats in class two as well. Cadence Coy placed second with her pygmy doe and was awarded first place two year old doe which later resulted in Grand Champion Senior Doe for goats. Graduated member Brenna Flowers was first in class four gilts which later resulted in Champion Division Two Gilt. 

In addition to the hard work the exhibitors put into their animals, many FFA members placed string art boards, pipe fitting projects, or hanging welcome signs that they made in class. This year Katie Good, Bella Wilson, Ava Hopson, Kylee Legge, Leif Trachsel, Kylee Clem, Kam Frank, Makenna Eibling, Alyssa Heldman, Cadence Coy, Kiersten Horn, and Heidi Trachsel all worked really hard on junior fair board to keep the fair running smoothly. The junior fair board members also placed projects in the fair whether that be livestock or woodworking. Based on the high levels of participation and achievement, the Hardin Northern FFA is proud to say that this year’s fair was a success. Congratulations to all!