Youth News
Blake Kennedy of the Tecumseh FFA Wins Swine Showmanship Honors at the 2016 OYE
Tue, 15 Mar 2016 04:28:12 CDT
The 2016 Oklahoma Youth Expo Swine Showmanship turned out to be more than just a contest to see how well the 4-H and FFA members involved could move their animals around the show ring. Judge Jordan Leatherman from the state of Indiana spent a lot of time with participants from all three divisions encouraging and instructing them in some of the finer points of handling their animals. And, for the top end of the Senior Division, he asked several of the young men and ladies to take the microphone, introduce themselves and tell a little about their involvement in the swine business, their youth organization and what their plans for the future might be. (Pictured here with his impromtu comments is Blake Kennedy of the Tecumseh FFA)
And Leatherman spent several minutes before his final selection in the Senior Division, challenging the older 4-H and FFA members to step up to the task of being role models for the younger members coming up behind them. He told them whether they liked it or not- there are younger 4-H and FFA members who are looking at them- and taking cues from what they see in the lives of those juniors and seniors in High School.
After his challenge to the young people, Leatherman picked the Senior Division winners and then the Overall Swine Showmanship Winners. Winning the overall title was the Senior Division Champion- Blake Kennedy, who was representing Pottawatomie County and the Tecumseh FFA Chapter. The Reserve Champion Overall was the Intermediate Division Champion Rachel Rumsey from Lincoln County, who is a member of the Prague FFA chapter.
Division Winners Included:
Junior Division:
Champion- Conner Reichert, Sequoyah County 4-H
Reserve- Colton Jasper, Oklahoma County 4-H
Intermediate Division:
Champion- Rachel Rumsey, Lincoln County- Prague FFA
Reserve- Garett Todd, Wagoner County
Senior Division:
Champion- Blake Kennedy, Pottwatomie County and the Tecomseh FFA
Reserve- Levi Herren, Payne County and the Cushing FFA
After the show, Radio Oklahoma Network's Ron Hays talked with the judge about how he approaches judging a Showmanship Contest- and the challenge that he gave the Senior Division at this year's OYE. Click on the LISTEN BAR below to hear their conversation.
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