The Ukiah FFA Chapter had a great and successful week at the Redwood Empire Fair July 31-August 4, 2024. FFA had 40 people compete on their show team exhibiting everything from rabbits and guinea pigs to beef cattle. The show team members worked hard with their animals this year and competed very well.
Wednesday kicked off with a bang at the goat, poultry, rabbit, and guinea pig shows. The rabbit and guinea pigs show went great. Kenzie Osburn bred the Supreme Grand champion meat pen. She also showed guinea pigs. Catalina Cowen won Novice showmanship and had the choice to bump up to Advanced showmanship where she was honored to receive second place. She also got third place with her meat pen. At the same time, the goat show was a success! Kaylie Foster won Supreme Champion, Piper Pickrell got third place in her market class, and Lupita Aguilar Garcia won FFA Reserve Champion. Rylee DeMarta won Supreme Champion breeding goat. Later on in the fair fun we had the poultry show. John Brackett received Reserve Supreme Grand Champion with his turkey. We also had Skylar Goldenhgost who won poultry showmanship. Rylee Demarta showed a dog and horse she won Champion Gelding and won Champion dog and first place showmanship as well.
Thursday was a busy day as with the showmanship, market and breeding sheep show, market and breeding swine show and beef show. Rylee Demarta won Reserve Champion FFA and second place in showmanship. We had Charlton McChesney, Savanna McClure, Jessica Manzo, Kendra Land, and Nathen Looney all show their sheep.
Thursday evening as the sun baked on the Racine Pavilion, the beef show began. We had six very hard dedicated exhibitors who worked months with their animals and learned lots of patience! Rylee DeMarta won Champion Holstein. Canyon Darger won FFA Reserve Champion. Aubrey Fansler won first in class and was a showmanship winner. Taylynn Arteaga won first in her class. Paige Allenbaugh won 3rd in market and 4th in showmanship. We also had Kylah Seeley and Zoey Brown who showed their steers.
Split into two days, Thursday and Friday was the Swine Show. The team had twenty-one swine showmen in our chapter where everyone competed in Showmanship and Market. As well, a few showed their breeding gilts where Rylee DeMarta won the Supreme Champion breeding gilt with her Duroc Reba. Kenzie Osburn won Champion FFA Market Hog with her dark cross Mac. Brandon Szymnack got Reserve Champion AOB. Emerald Mueller won 1st place in her class, 1st in showmanship, and 2nd in breeding class. Braydon Rodrigue won 1st in class. Carson Galletti won 3rd in his class. Chase Galletti won 5th in his class. The following people participated in the pig show as well.
- Vince Vau
- Wyatt Foster
- Landon Degallier
- Jordan Rodriguez
- Aaron Gonzalez
- Beau Milligan
- Fabian Chavez
- Kye Navarette
- Jaden Ford
- Julian Gonzalez
- Aidan Bazzoli
- Blake Nelson
- Jared Baroza
- Mathew Davis
- Wyatt Langevin
After all of the shows were completed it was time for Small and Large Animal Round Robin. Winners of the Advanced Showmanship classes were showing all of the species shown in their category, either large or small. Rylee DeMarta and Skylar Goldenghost competed in small animal round robin. Aubrey Fansler, Kristen Helms, Kaylie Foster, Emerald Mueller, and Rylee DeMarta competed in large animal round robin. That is a great honor to have!
To round out the week our Show Team participated in the Junior Livestock Auction. It was outstanding where multiple buyers supported, not only our team, but all 4H and FFA members who sold. The prices were phenomenal and the money will help each member pay their bills, purchase next year’s project, and save for college. Overall the connections and friendships they made throughout the time with their project will be irreplaceable and what they are thankful for.
As well, our Show Team would like to thank the following individuals for helping us have a successful Redwood Empire Fair: Mrs. DeMarta for her support and help throughout the year, our FFA Advisors Ms. Potter and Ms. Clark, Jim Brown, Corey Bush, Wesley Hunt, Stacey Anderson, Casey Burris, Terri Gowen, Livestock Office staff, Show Clerks, Parents, Volunteers and the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds Staff.
Kenzie Osburn
Kenzie Osburn is a Senior at Ukiah High and a part of the Journalism class. She has lived in Potter Valley her whole life. She is the Potter Valley 4-H President and Ukiah FFA President. She shows livestock all over the country including rabbits and pigs. She likes to ride horses.
Catalina Cowen is a freshman in the Ukiah High school journalism class. She loves baking and hanging out with friends. She joined journalism because she likes writing about things that happen in the town around her. Catalina was born in Ukiah, California which is a big reason why she wanted to write about the city she is from. She looks forward to writing for the Ukiah High School Journalism class in her future years in High school.