The Redwood FFA students showcased their livestock at the Tulare County Fair and achieved great success.
By: Isabel Copeland and Ruby Houser
From Tuesday, September 10th to Friday, September 13th, FFA students went to the Tulare County Fair to showcase their livestock. Additionally, the kids made money from their projects by selling their animals for a fair price.
Mr. Coon, the Ag Mechanics teacher at Redwood, said, “The highlight of the fair by far was Axl Menard. He was the reserve supreme champion steer, which for those people that don’t know what that means, he was the overall second place steer of the entire show, which is a really big deal.”
at the Tulare Country Fair
Photo Gigantea
Mr. Coon is also the advisor for FFA, and he helps his students find ways to improve their performances and encourages them to do their best.
Axl Menard, ‘27, said, “I’m really proud. I’m really happy with how me and my steer did at the fair, it was awesome, and the experience was exhilarating. My main emotion is proud, and content.”
Menard is in his second year of Ag. At the fair, Menard won the reserve supreme champion steer. He goes on to comment about how this makes him feel.
“I’m just really happy, it’s a sad experience, you know, especially if you working a year with them, and selling, after all, he was the champion, you work so hard for that. But I’m really content and happy, it’s not something that happens to everybody,” said Menard.
Menard also received a belt buckle for achieving the title of reserve supreme champion steer, in addition to several banners, ribbons, and a check.
Mrs. Veloz said, “The kids worked hard all summer, so the fair was really fun to see them. Just work together as a team and then participate.”
Mrs. Veloz, is an agricultural teacher and FFA advisor, and provides educational pathways for the care of both animals and plants.
Mrs. Veloz said, “Levi Judson received first place in his showmanship class.”
showed their lambs at the Tulare County Fair
Photo N. Miller/Gigantea
Levi Judson, ‘27, is currently in his second year of agriculture and is also enrolled in the Ace Academy. Judson discusses the improvements he has made since his freshman year.
Judson said, “I think I’ve gotten better at working animals because last year I was alone with steers but this year, there was me and two others.”
Overall, the students and teachers at Redwood showed great teamwork, dedication, and skill at the Tulare County Fair. Teachers like Mr. Coon and Mrs. Veloz provided support, contributing to the students’ achievements.
Mr. Coon said, “One thing that Redwood does really well is we show up at the fair as a team, as a group of Rangers, a very tight-knit group, and no matter how we do, we leave the fair as a team.”
Isabel Copeland
Ruby Houser
Tags: ag, clubs & lifestyles, ffa, rangers, Redwood, redwood ag, redwood ffa, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, rhs ag, rhs ffa, visalia ca