Nineteen young people, ranging from second to the 12th grade won over $5,000 in cash prizes, buckles and trophies at the Newton County Livestock Show this month.

Students participating in the show raised hogs, beef cattle or breeding ewes as members of Newton 4-H, Newton County FFA, Alcovy FFA or Eastside FFA throughout the season and kept records of their work.

Each student entered a record book into the competition, as well as entering his or her animals in showmanship and weight classes.

Showmanship classes were divided by first time and veteran competitors as youths showed their skills with the animal in order to win cash prizes ranging from $55 to $85 and a belt buckle for the top showmen.

Buckles were sponsored by the Newton County Farm Bureau and class trophies were sponsored by the Piedmont Cattlemen’s Association.

Classes divided animals by age or weight to determine the best of each species, with winners earning payouts from $50 to $70 as well as bonuses and trophies for the top two animals in each species. 

Some youths show multiple animals and/or species. 

The cash earned assists youths in paying for livestock projects, with costs ranging from purchase prices to feed and veterinary care.

In beef cattle, 11th-grader Kelly Cooper of Alcovy High FFA won the first time showmanship buckle, and 12th-grader Brandon Johnson of Newton High FFA took home the veteran showmanship buckle.

Brandon Johnson also took home honors for the Grand Champion Heifer, and Haley Kneece, a senior representing Newton High FFA won Reserve Champion Heifer.

Heather Stanley, a senior from Newton High FFA, won Grand Champion Steer, and Eastside FFA sophomore Jack Weesner earned Reserve Champion Steer. 

Other heifer showmen were fifth-grader Alicia Nichols, a 4-H member from Mansfield Elementary; seventh-grader Anastasia Cannon, a 4-H member from Grace Christian Academy; freshmen 4-H members Austin Nichols and Noah Malcolm from Eastside High; sophomore FFA member Brianna Johnson from Newton High; and senior FFA member Kathrine Cooper from Alcovy High. 

Heifer recordbook junior winners were Cannon and Alicia Nichols.  Senior winners were Malcolm, Cooper, Brianna Johnson, Brandon Johnson, Austin Nichols, Kneece and Cooper.  In steers, Weesner won first and Stanley earned second.

In hogs, the first time showmanship buckle went to Radavius Wilkes, an 11th-grade FFA member at Newton High, and the veteran showmanship buckle was earned by Elizabeth Teasley, a fourth-grade 4-H member from Heard-Mixon Elementary. 

The Grand Champion Hog was awarded to Amanda Malcom, a fourth-grade 4-H member from Rocky Plains Elementary, and the Reserve Champion Hog title went to Briana Chambless, a 10th-grade FFA member at Newton High.

Other hog competitors were sixth-grader Addison Malcom and seventh-grader Ava Jane Teasley, both 4-H members at Indian Creek Middle, and 11th-grader Tyler Cleary of Newton High FFA.

Junior recordbook winners were, beginning with first place, Ava Jane Teasley, Elizabeth Teasley, Addison Malcom and Amanda Malcom. 

Senior recordbook winners were Briana Chambless, Tyler Cleary and Radavius Wilkes.

Ava Jane Teasley’s breeding ewes earned both Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion honors, as well as helped her earn the Veteran Breeding Ewe Showmanship buckle.  She is a seventh-grade 4-H member at Indian Creek Middle.

Karly Mitcham, a second-grade 4-H member from Newton County Theme School, won the First Time Breeding Ewe Showmanship buckle. 

Fourth-grade 4-H member Elizabeth Teasley also showed breeding ewes. Market lambs are not shown in the spring, but 4-H showmen Emily Nichols and Matthew Crapps of Mansfield Elementary were honored at the show for earning top honors in the state with their market lamb recordbooks.

All funds used in the show are donated by local businesses and individuals.

Piedmont Cattlemen’s Association and Newton County Farm Bureau were top donors, and others giving $100 or more were Wahatchee Creek Farms, Weesner family & friends, Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center, Sigman Veterinary Clinic, K&D Shoes, American Field Maintenance, Ginn Chevrolet, Jessie’s Kitchen, Martin Marietta Materials, Robinson Services, Snapping Shoals EMC, Southern Shinz/ Barfield Ranch, State Farm agent Lewis C. Carr, Jr., Stevi B’s, and TM Ewing Farm/JEDT.

Youth currently in kindergarten or older may show lambs and goats next season.  Youth who will turn nine years old by December 31, 2014, may show any species.  For more information, call Ted Wynne at 770-784-2010.

Terri Kimble Fullerton is a Newton County 4-H Agent through UGA Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at tkimble@uga.edu.