By Ariann Blakely

Enumclaw High FFA

The Enumclaw FFA chapter recently took home several group and individual awards from the Northwest Junior Livestock Show at the Puyallup Spring Fair.

The Future Farmers of America club members spent the six or more months prior, caring for, feeding, raising, and training their animals in preparation for the April fair. Enumclaw FFA exhibited 36 hogs, two steers, and one goat.

During the livestock show, exhibitors compete against other schools in two types of classes.

The first is a market evaluation, where the exhibitor’s animal is judged on meat quality, and appearance.

The second is showmanship, where exhibitors with similar experience are grouped together and asked to show how well their animal work with them as they maneuver through the show ring.

The Enumclaw FFA chapter as a whole had many successes this year, with Livestock Evaluation Team One placing second, and Team Two placing fifth.

Additionally, high scoring individuals Asher Johnson placed first, Juliet Gwerder placed fourth, and Marley Speece placed ninth.

Meat Evaluation Team One scored second, and high scoring individuals Austin Martin placing third, William Thalman placed fifth, and Maddie Cooper placed ninth.

Finally, Juliet Gwerder took home Grand Champion Senior FFA steer showman, Ariann Blakely won the Reserve Grand Champion Senior FFA goat showman event, and Cody Seldal for raising the Grand Champion FFA Market Hog.

Not only did Enumclaw FFA bring home many overall successes, they had many class winners throughout the show: Ariann Blakely, Grand champion market hog; Maddie Cooper, Grand Champion market hog; Austin Martin, Reserve Grand Champion market hog; Juliet Gwerder, Grand Champion market steer; Juliet Gwerder, reserve Grand Champion market steer; and Ariann Blakely; and Reserve Grand Champion market goat.

The following members’ showcased their success in their showmanship classes: Austin Martin, Grand Champion novice hog showman; Cody Seldal, Grand Champion senior hog showman; and Liam Isbell, third place senior hog showman.

All Enumclaw FFA members represented their chapter, school, and community well, and their successes have been rightfully celebrated.

Enumclaw FFA annually competes at the Northwest Junior Livestock Show each spring, next year if you are looking to purchase locally produced meat, these hard working FFA members are a great option.