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Winners of Premier Exhibitor awards sponsored by Gerry Lane Enterprises are pictured with LSU AgCenter Associate Vice President Toby Lepley, far left; Terry Bell, second from left, representing Gerry Lane Enterprises; and interim LSU Vice President for Agriculture Luke Laborde, far right, at an awards ceremony that concluded the 2022 LSU AgCenter Livestock Show. The award recipients are, from left, Remi Larson, of Iberville Parish; Shaohannah Martin, of Lafayette Parish; Alyssa Keowen, of West Baton Rouge Parish; Emma Grace Winslett, of Grant Parish; Camille Sonnier, of Jefferson Davis Parish; and Dawson Dufrene, of Lafourche Parish.
Young people with 4-H and FFA livestock projects came together from across Louisiana to participate in the 87th annual LSU AgCenter Livestock Show held Feb. 12 to 19 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
Dwayne Nunez, AgCenter livestock show manager, reported that 1,973 youths exhibited 2,262 breeding animals, 1,228 market animals, 156 pens of broilers and 708 exhibition birds. These young people qualified for the state show by participating in parish and district livestock shows across the state.
“It was an awesome experience to welcome back all of our 4-H and FFA members after last year’s livestock show had to be managed under tight restrictions due to COVID and the tremendous ice storm, which affected the schedule,” said Toby Lepley, AgCenter associate vice president and 4-H program leader. “The increase in entries this year reflected the resiliency and determination of our youth, their parents, and their agents to get back into the show ring. ”
“Our livestock show continues to be a highlight of many 4-H and FFA members who not only gain experience in raising quality livestock projects, but also learn responsibility, teamwork, character, problem solving and goal setting skills,” Lepley added. “All of these young people, regardless of the color of ribbon they were awarded for their project, are champions in life and in helping make Louisiana and American agriculture a safe and important part of our state and national economy.”
Gerry Lane Enterprises of Baton Rouge, Nutrien and The Meraux Foundation are just three of the contributors who provided support for the awards and incentives given to the winners.
PREMIER EXHIBITORS
Gerry Lane Enterprises of Baton Rouge, through an $80,000 endowment to the LSU Foundation, began the Premier Exhibitor Awards in 1999 to recognize youth who exhibit knowledge, skill and communication ability relating to their animal project. Applicants compete in a series of tests to determine their knowledge of the species relating to their project. Each year, 30 young winners receive scholastic premiums of $50 to $500, as well as a commemorative belt buckle and monogrammed jacket.
“This is the generation of people that will keep this country the great country that it is,” Lane said of the livestock exhibitors. “Many of them have become successful in their adult lives, and it started when they were young and learned the discipline of taking care of animals. We want to support these deserving young people. That’s our primary goal.”
This year’s winners include local Dawson Dufrene, Lafourche Parish 4-H, Swine Premier Exhibitor, 1st Place. (pictured above)
SHOWMANSHIP CHAMPIONS
Nutrien, a community partner, sponsors awards for outstanding 4-H and FFA members winning Champion Showmanship Awards. The company, located in Geismar, supports the lessons of respect, responsibility, fairness, caring citizenship and sportsmanship taught in 4-H and FFA.
The initial $40,000 endowment to the LSU Foundation in 2017 established awards for senior champion showmen. Senior winners receive scholastic premiums of $250 or the amount determined by the vice president for agriculture in accordance with annual net earnings of the fund. Junior and intermediate winners receive scholastic premiums of $125.
Awards were given to the following local champion showmen:
Intermediate Broiler Showmanship Champion — Chloe Dighton, Terrebonne Parish 4-H
LSPA/LCES Junior Breeding Sheep Showmanship Champion — Alexandria Ledel, Terrebonne Parish 4-H
SUPREME CHAMPIONS
Another community partner, The Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation, through its endowment in the Louisiana 4-H Foundation, supports awards for Supreme Champion animals in all six breeding species: beef cattle, dairy, goats, swine, poultry and sheep.
The local winners were:
Supreme Breeding Meat Goat Buck — Carsyn Ayo, Lafourche Parish 4-H
Over the nine-day show, champions were selected in the six species with the following designations:
Breeding Beef
Reserve Champion Santa Gertrudis Female — Leilah Keller, Lafourche Parish 4-H
Breeding goats, dairy
Grand Champion Purebred Boer Buck — Carsyn Ayo, Lafourche Parish 4-H
Reserve Champion La. Bred Purebred Boer Doe — Carsyn Ayo, Lafourche Parish 4-H
Grand Champion Pygmy Doe — McKayla Dempster, Lafourche Parish 4-H
Grand Champion La. Bred Pygmy Doe — McKayla Dempster, Lafourche Parish 4-H
Breeding Swine
Grand Champion La. Bred Yorkshire Gilt — Blakely Martin, Lafouche Parish 4-H
Breeding Sheep
Grand Champion Hampshire Lamb — Chelsi Theriot, Terrebonne Parish 4-H
Grand Champion Southdown Lamb — Jarrett Allemand, Terrebonne Parish 4-H
Reserve Champion Commercial Ewe — Alexandria Ledet, Terrebonne Parish 4-H
