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 

FFAAvery Davidson