By Rick Bogren, rbogren@agcenter.lsu.edu
GONZALES — In addition to selecting winning animals, judges also identified individual contestants for their showmanship skills at the 84th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center.
Junior, intermediate and senior champion showmanship awards were presented to exhibitors in each of the eight animal categories: dairy cattle, beef cattle, swine, exhibition poultry, broiler poultry, sheep, breeding goats and market goats. Supported by an endowment from Nutrien, awards were presented in the junior 9- to 11-year-old, intermediate 12- to 14-year-old and senior 15-year-olds and up divisions.Senior champion showmen receive $250 awards, and intermediate and junior champions receive $125 awards.
“Showmanship not only generates enthusiasm in the show ring but teaches many valuable lessons used in day-to-day life,” said Dwayne Nunez, LSU AgCenter livestock show manager. “These lessons include responsibility, work ethic, determination to reach a goal, winning graciously and accepting setbacks with dignity.” Award winners in each category are as follows:
Sheep — senior, Grant Racca, Calcasieu Parish 4-H; intermediate, Leah Guardia, Acadia Parish 4-H; junior Addison Zaunbrecher, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Market goats — senior, Abby Lobue, Calcasieu Parish 4-H; intermediate, Cole Johnson, Natchitoches Parish 4-H; junior, Brennan Mays, Calcasieu Parish 4-H.
Dairy goats — senior, Zoe Cazayoux, Lafayette Parish 4-H; intermediate, Emily Tucker, Livingston Parish 4-H; junior, Kale Cloud, Allen Parish 4-H.
Breeding goats — senior, Chloe Ayo, Lafourche Parish 4-H; intermediate, Carsyn Ayo, Lafourche Parish 4-H; junior, Asher Shepard, Calcasieu Parish 4-H.
Dairy — senior, Owen Brouillette, West Feliciana Parish 4-H; Intermediate, Camille Sonnier, Jefferson Davis Parish 4-H; junior, Wyatt Sonnier, Jefferson Davis Parish 4-H.
Swine — senior, Caroline Doise, Jefferson Davis Parish 4-H; intermediate, Guy Hayes, Allen Parish 4-H; junior, Allison Savant, Allen Parish 4-H.
Exhibition poultry — senior, Claire O’Neill, Tangipahoa Parish 4-H; intermediate, Emma Bergeron, St. Landry Parish 4-H; junior, Samantha Keith, Bossier Parish 4-H.
Broilers — senior, Victoria Watson, Iberia Parish 4-H; intermediate, Katelyn Charpentier, Terrebonne Parish 4-H; junior, Thomas Roussel, St. James 4-H.
Beef — senior, Mallori Touvell, Calcasieu Parish 4-H; intermediate, Connor Thibodeaux, Calcasieu Parish 4-H; junior, Luke Natali, Calcasieu Parish 4-H.