Prepare your brushes, towels, and show sticks. The start of the major show season for FFA members raising animals began Jan. 11. FFA members gave up their entire weekend in dedication to their chapter as well as responsibility toward their animals.
TCYS (Travis County Youth Show) only comes around once a year. If a student and their animal make a high enough placing, then their animal makes it to auction where they can receive scholarship money.“As a whole the chapter did pretty well,” junior Alyssa Johnston said. “We had a lot of places at the top half of every class we showed in.”
The FFA members who made it to auction with their animals or projects included: Jenny Bean, fourth place, market lamb; Colin Rhea, Grand Champion, market lamb; Jana Kiefer, sixth place, market goat; Thomas Ingham, breed reserve, market barrow; Michelle Hopkins, first place, market barrow; Sohayla Zandy, second place, market barrow; Mikala Bonner, second place, market barrow; Michelle Serratos, third place, market barrow; Julia Freudenberger, fourth place, market barrow; Desiree Moore, fifth place, market barrow; Matt Romere, fifth place, market barrow; Dani LeBlanc, seventh place, market barrow.
“I worked with my pig every day so he and I knew what we were going to do in the ring,” sophomore Tommy Ingham said.
Not all members have to raise an animal to be able to receive scholarship money. Members also entered different projects such as paintings, drawings and even baked goods. Zandy entered in the stuffed animal/dolls division and came out Champion. Zach Drozd entered in the pickup/ATV equipment division and placed Champion in his division as well. Serratos entered in the black and white drawing division and came out Champion. Rhea entered in the Fruit/Fruit Salsa division placing Champion. Lastly, Mai Lan Bui placed Champion in her color drawing contest.
“The most memorable thing about TCYS is all the friends I’ve made,” Bonner said. “As a senior, I’m going to miss being able to show in these arenas.”
