Newton County students stole the stage at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show as 4-H’ers and FFA members took home awards in nearly every category.

Youth competed in showmanship, breed specific weight classes, and record books for hogs, beef cattle, and lambs.

Newton 4-H’s three breeding ewe showmen, fifth grader Rachel Dabney of Providence Christian, fourth grader Ava Jane Teasley of Heard-Mixon, and first grader Elizabeth Teasley of Heard-Mixon, placed first in county group of three.

Rachel also placed sixth in showmanship and ninth in weight class with her lamb.

Elizabeth placed second in first grade showmanship, third in market lamb record books, and second, third, and fourth in weight classes with her breeding ewes.

Ava Jane Teasley placed second in market lamb record books, second in breeding ewe showmanship, second and third in breeding ewe classes, and eighth in heifer weight class.

4-H’er Dustin Nichols, Eastside freshman, placed fifth in freshman steer showmanship and made it to the top 5 4-H showmen for the state with an invitation to the Master 4-H Showmanship round.

Dustin’s steer placed third in first-year feeder steers and third in weight class.

McKenzie Powell, a seventh grader at Indian Creek in 4-H, won the GCCPA steer weight class and Junior steer record books categories and placed fourth in Junior heifer record books and ninth in steer weight class.

4-H’er Kevin Rider, a junior at Eastside, was seventh in weight class with his Hereford steer.

Luke Wallace, a second grader at Heard-Mixon, placed fifth in market lamb record books.

From Alcovy High FFA, sophomore Dillon Parker was fourth in heifer record books and ninth in weight class.

Jamie Watson, an Alcovy junior, was fifth with her gilt hog in weight class.

Senior Beth Warbington and sophomore Savannah Kuhns also competed for Alcovy FFA.

Eastside FFA’s Lacy Powell, a junior, won in Senior heifer record books and placed fourth in Senior steer record books.

Lacy’s heifer placed fourth weight class, while her steer was fifth in the first time show, weight class, and GCCPA class.

Eastside FFA member John Beavers placed ninth in commercial steer weight class.

Newton FFA earned a plaque for the highest number of first-year steer exhibitors.

Members of the Newton High club also took home many other honors in showmanship and classes.

Senior Jenna Lawson placed second in steer record books, fifth in heifer weight class, and fourth in steer weight class.

Aleah Hill, senior, placed 12th in overall senior showmanship and first in heifer weight class.

Josie Stamps was first in the GCCPA show and steer weight class, plus second place in the first year show. Her heifer placed fourth in weight class.

Bryan Vasquez was fourth in the first year show, sixth in the GCCPA show, and seventh in steer weight class.

Robert Murphy won fourth in the first year show and fifth in his steer weight class.

Fifth place in the GCCPA show went to Ben Richardson, who also earned sixth in his steer weight class.

Newton High FFA members Dalton Hegwood, Shane Futral, and Devyn Hegwood competed in the state hog show.

Dalton was second in his barrow class.

The state fitting contest featured 4-H’ers and FFA members preparing a steer or heifer for showing without any assistance from teachers, agents, or parents.

The Newton FFA team of Ben Richardson, Aleah Hill, and Jenna Lawson placed third.

Newton 4-H’ers Dustin Nichols and Hunter Lawson teamed up with Alcovy FFA member Dillon Parker to take fourth in the state.

Youth who will be in the first through 12th grades next school year can contact their local FFA or 4-H chapter to learn how to show next year.