Louisiana FFA Announces Livestock Exhibitions Awards
The Louisiana FFA Association announced the 2022 state winners of the Livestock Exhibition Awards program. Sixteen chapters applied for awards.
The Livestock Exhibition Awards program recognizes FFA chapters whose members are actively involved in the raising and showing of domesticated livestock. Species include beef, dairy cattle, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, and rabbits. FFA members participating in livestock projects are responsible for the health and growth of their animals, and they prepare them for shows on the parish, district, and state levels. Members exhibit their animals in the show ring where a judge selects the top-performing animals based on accepted industry standards. Additionally, members can earn awards based on their abilities as showmen, and at the state level, they can compete in their knowledge of animals and the industry in the premier exhibitor events.
The Homer FFA Chapter is one program that has found success in livestock exhibition. The chapter began showing and raising exhibition poultry in fall of 2017. It all started when a community member showed up with a box of baby chicks and asked the chapter to care for them. Erika Anderson, Homer FFA Chapter advisor said, “We had no idea what type of birds we had, so we contacted the State Fair Exhibition Poultry show manager to help us, and it has evolved from there. We have continued to grow and maintain the poultry program because it gives our students many opportunities and experiences they otherwise would not have. It teaches them responsibility, teamwork, dedication, time management, animal husbandry, communication skills and some many more life lessons.”
Chapters participating in the program completed an extensive application detailing the accomplishments of their members. The applications were graded by a committee of agriscience teachers to select winners in each category. State finalists and winners receive certificates and banners.
The 2022 state results are:
Superior Chapters:
Bayou Blue Middle
Bell City
Central Lafourche
Crowley
Gueydan
Homer
Iota
Jennings
Lacassine
Many
Northshore
Pearl River
St. James CTC
Sulphur
Ville Platte
West Ouachita
To qualify for the following rankings, chapters must complete an intensive application fully describing their members placings in each show:
Bronze Emblem Chapters:
Bayou Blue Middle
Bell City
Gueydan
Jennings
Ville Platte
Silver Emblem Chapters:
Central Lafourche
Northshore
Pearl River
Sulphur
West Ouachita
Gold Emblem Chapters:
Homer
Iota
Lacassine
Many
Additionally, a winner is announced in each of the species categories:
Beef – Many
Dairy Cattle – Lacassine
Goats – Northshore
Poultry – Homer
Rabbits – West Ouachita
Sheep – Iota
Swine – Many
The Gold Emblem Chapters were further ranked to determine the Top Four Chapters:
1st – Lacassine
2nd – Many
3rd – Iota
4th – Homer