The Tioga FFA loaded up the trailers and headed off to the Texoma Expo & Livestock Show in one of their last hoorays of the season in March.
The students had a successful run, snagging blue ribbons and first-place finishes in different events from March 1-6.
“Altogether, I think it was a very successful year,” TFFA adviser Tanner Hash said.
He noted that eight students made it to the sale, with several finishing as alternates.
“Making the sale at Grayson County is a pretty good accomplishment,” Hash said. “It's a really competitive county, so anytime you can make the sale, there is definitely a big reward and a big accomplishment for sure.”
In ag mechanics, the group of Raul Chavez, Graham Arnold and Anthony Rocconi took home the title of the Gooseneck Division Champion for their trailer.
Calan Sweeney and Jody Harrison each won a blue ribbon for their shop tables. Hudson Howard received a red ribbon for his smoker.
Caleb Wilson received a blue ribbon for his deer blind, and Hudson Vining won a blue ribbon, too, for his duck blind.
Zander Lewter won a blue ribbon for his metal rack, and Rocconi won one for his skid steer attachment.
In the swine show, Brooklyn Lewter placed third in Yorkshire, fourth place in Light Cross and made sale.
Hudson Howard received fifth and seventh in Berkshire, first place in Dark Cross, and made sale.
Brynn Tackett placed fourth in Yorkshire, sixth in Light Cross, sixth in Dark Cross and made sale.
Emory Hailey received fifth place in Yorkshire, and Jackson Lewter got ninth in Dark Cross.
Both Caleb and Emma Howell made sale, with Caleb placing seventh in Dark Cross and Howell placing second in Duroc.
Jett Colteryahn took home a first-in-class with his heifer.
Kelci Pittman won first, second, third and fourth for Reserve Division Heifer, and she also received fifth and made a sale for her steer.
“I started showing when I was in seventh grade, so it's just been an ongoing thing,” Pittman said.
She also received a blue ribbon for her ag bench.
“For my ag mechanics project, I decided to do something simple,” Pittman said. “I just did a bench. … I worked very hard on it. I spent countless hours in the shop working on it. It was very successful.”
In the sheep show, Millie Sweeney placed sixth, Coye Wilson placed fifth and Izzie George received eighth place in Market Lamb and made sale.
In the goat show, Codee Sweeney placed third, Millie was fourth, Attalee Sweeney got fifth, and Emory Hailey and Timber Sheid both placed seventh in Breeding Doe.
Brynleigh Taylor received fourth, fifth, sixth and made the sale in Market Goat.
As the students prepare for the next ag season, Hash shared some of his goals for the year ahead.
He said he wants to have more students participate, more ag mechanic projects and more students make sales, hoping to top the success of this school year.
“The future for us is looking pretty good,” Hash added.
