Tri-Parish state livestock show winners named

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Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 85th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held Feb. 8 to 15 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
To qualify for the state show, competitors had to first participate in parish and district livestock shows across Louisiana. At the state show, 1,900 youths exhibited 2,060 breeding animals, 1,261 market animals, 883 exhibition birds and 149 pens of broilers, according to the AgCenter Livestock Show manager Dwayne Nunez.
Judges at the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show determined state champions in various breeds of beef and dairy cattle, goats, hogs, poultry and sheep.
Although the event showcases examples of the state’s important livestock industries, AgCenter administrators say it is much more than that.
“This show is much more about recognizing champion young people than it is about naming champion animals,” said Bill Richardson, LSU vice president for agriculture. “Every youngster who participated in this show is a champion because of the dedication, skills and knowledge they’ve demonstrated by caring for their animals.”
The 2020 Livestock Show is made possible by endowed funding from the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation, Gerry Lane Enterprises and Nutrien, said Patrick Tuck, executive director of the Louisiana 4-H Foundation.
Other donors include First South Farm Credit, Sunshine Quality Solutions, Mosaic, Louisiana Land Bank, Zen-Noh Grain Corporation, the Louisiana 4-H Foundation, Louisiana FFA Foundation, Louisiana Farm Bureau Federation and Boot Barn, Tuck said.
The Meraux Foundation endowment supported awards for Supreme Champion animals in all six breeding species: beef cattle, dairy, poultry, sheep, goats and swine.
The winners included:
Supreme Champion Dairy Goat Doe — Jenna Stelly, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Supreme Champion Sheep Ewe — Zoie Zaunbrecher, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Richardson said the Livestock Show demonstrates the result of years of hard work on the part of the 4‑H and FFA members.
“But we also see the support of parents, teachers, volunteer leaders and others who helped them along the way,” Richardson said.
Six exhibitors earned Premier Exhibitor awards, which place emphasis and recognition on exhibitors’ knowledge and skills in the 4-H and FFA livestock projects. Supported by an endowment from Gerry Lane Enterprises in Baton Rouge, the program is available to participants exhibiting beef, dairy, swine, sheep, poultry and goats.
The program tests all facets of youths’ proficiency in their livestock projects through an interview, a resume, a test, a skill demonstration and showing ability.
Olivia Soileau, of Evangeline Parish 4-H, received the Price LeBlanc Champion Livestock Award for her champion market hog. This award is presented to one grand champion market animal each year from among five species: steers, swine, sheep, chickens and goats. The award is funded by an endowment from Price LeBlanc, a Baton Rouge automobile dealership.
Following is a list of additional winners in various livestock categories and their 4-H home parishes or FFA affiliation:
Exhibition Poultry
Reserve Champion Any Other Standard Breed — Emma Bergeron, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Breeding Goats
Reserve Champion Any Other Breed Buck — Garrett Manuel, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Nigerian Dwarf Doe — Emmerson Lyons, Beau Chene HS FFA.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Mytonics Doe — Josi Deshotel, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Mytonics Doe — Josi Deshotel, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion Nubian Doe — Jenna Stelly, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Market Swine
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Hog — Olivia Soileau, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Hampshire — Olivia Soileau, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Hampshire — Madeline Soileau, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Barrow — Olivia Soileau, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Breeding Sheep
Reserve Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Hampshire Ram — Megan Davidson, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion Louisiana-bred Katahdin Ewe — Hannah LeBlanc, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Champion Commercial Ewe — Zoie Zaunbrecher, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Breeding Beef
Reserve Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Beefmaster Bull — Josie Soileau, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Braford Base Bull — Gavin Ortego, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Brangus Bull — Addyson Gautreaux, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Brangus Bull — William Gautreaux, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Brangus Heifer — Addyson Gautreaux, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Hereford Heifer — Madison Guillory, St. Landry Parish 4-H.
Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Red Brahman Bull — Christian Hensgens, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Santa Gertrudis Bull — Evan Aucoin, Evangeline Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred Simbrah Bull — Keagan Valdetero, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion Simbrah Heifer — Trent Broussard, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Champion Louisiana-bred Simbrah Heifer — Keagan Valdetero, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Champion Simmental Bull — Claire Morgan, Iota High FFA.
Champion Any Other Breed, Brahman Influence Heifer — John Schultz, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Reserve Champion and Champion Louisiana-bred, Any Other Breed, Brahman Influence Heifer — Gracie Hensgens, Acadia Parish 4-H.
Breed, Non-Brahman Influence, Bull — Eliza Foster, Tangipahoa Parish 4-H.
Dairy
Reserve Champion Any Other Breed — Makayla Corder, Acadia Parish 4-H.