Ascension Parish youths named champions at Ag show

     Hundreds of young people from across Louisiana were named state champions during the 81st Annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held Feb. 13 to Feb. 20 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center.

     To qualify for the state show, competitors had to first participate in parish and district livestock shows across Louisiana. At the state show, 2,363 youths exhibited 1,584 breeding animals, 1,492 market animals, 173 pens of broilers and 585 exhibition birds, according to the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show manager Dwayne Nunez.

    Judges at the LSU AgCenter Livestock Show determined more than 250 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, LSU 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.”

     In addition to breed and species champions, the livestock show also designates Supreme Champions for breeding animals in each livestock category. The winners this year are: Supreme Champion Beef Bull – Taylor Faul, Acadia Parish 4-H; Supreme Champion Beef Heifer – Emily Rodriguez, Caddo Parish 4-H; Supreme Champion Dairy – Cole Faunce, Tangipahoa Parish 4-H; Supreme Champion Poultry – Joshua (Cole) Briley, Evangeline Parish 4-H; Supreme Champion Goat Buck – Austin Landry, Assumption Parish 4-H; Supreme Champion Goat Doe – Austin Landry, Assumption Parish 4-H;  Supreme Champion Sheep Ram – Mackenzie Castro, Assumption Parish 4-H; Supreme Champion Sheep Ewe – Mackenzie Castro, Assumption Parish 4-H;

Supreme Champion Swine – Cayden Hill, Jefferson Davis Parish 4-H.

     Following is a list of additional winners in various livestock categories from Ascension Parish 4-H: Exhibition Poultry – Reserve Champion Rose Comb Clean Leg – Jamie Lavergne; Champion Asiatic – Emily Duguay. Breeding Swine –  Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Hampshire – Matthew Delaune; Reserve Champion Yorkshire – Megan Bordelon. Market Lambs – Grand Champion Louisiana-bred Market Lamb – Eden Schexnayder. Market Steers – Champion Overall Market Steer – Camryn Castrogovannie; Champion Non-Brahman Influence Market Steer – Camryn Castrogovannie. Breeding Beef – Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Angus Bull – Maci Schexnayder; Reserve Champion and Reserve Champion Louisiana-bred Beefmaster Bull – Paige Zeringue.