Local youth shine at Florida State Fair

By Carrie A. Mizell

Trenton FFA members traveled to Tampa last week for the Florida State Fair and returned home with numerous awards and recognitions.
Trenton Sr. FFA members Amanda Williams, Austin Polk, Lori Harrison and Erin Jones placed fifth in the State Dairy Career Development Event (CDE). Amanda Williams individually placed ninth in the state.
Held on Saturday, Feb. 12, the event prompted 30 teams from throughout the state to gather and compete for the first place title.

FFA members are shown back row, left to right: Lee Deen, Jordan Gaylard, Orrie Roberts, Hunter Parrish, Brooks Parrish, Josh Harrison, Kaylin Hastings, Kacee Langford and Erin Jones. Middle row, left to right: Cody Norton, Jonathan Gaylard, and Colton Rucker. Front row, left to right: Taylor Langford, Asheton Sanchez, Harleigh Rucker, Kaylee Crawford, Harley Langford, Danyal Langford and Lyndsay Boland.

The purpose of the Dairy CDE was to prompt students to take an interest in learning activities related to the dairy industry, including dairy cattle herd management, as well as evaluation and selection.
While Trenton FFA members competed together as teams at the state fair, they also showed animals individually.
Erin Jones placed first in the Beef Heifer Champion of Champions and first in the Steer Champion of Champions.
Kacee Langford placed first in the intermediate division of the Dairy Champion of Champions. Kacee also won both Intermediate Steer and Intermediate Dairy Showmanship. As if that wasn’t enough, Kacee also brought home a Holstein Junior Champion Dairy Cow award.
Taylor Langford won the Florida State Fair Foundation Scholarship, which is given in the amount of $1000.
Asheton Sanchez won Reserve Grand Champion Steer.
Hunter Parrish won Grand Champion Premier Steer, and his younger brother, Brooks Parrish, won Grand Champion Carcass for his steer and Reserve Grand Champion Premier Steer.
According to Heather Rucker, Trenton FFA junior chapter advisor, Gilchrist County had 12 students enter steers at the Florida State Fair in Tampa.

“To me, being a veteran is about taking pride in the country, my service and my ability to maintain deep and lasting friendships all over the country,” Mash said.
Since starting work on February 15, Mash said he has already had the opportunity to meet six local veterans who came to his office looking for help on filing claims and beneficiary forms.
“I hope to be able to satisfy the needs within the community and establish a rapport with each and every one of the county’s veterans and their families,” Mash said.
Mash began working with veterans in 2002 after serving as an active duty Marine for 17 years, followed by eight years in the Florida National Guard.
“I had just turned 18 and graduated from Chamberlain High School in Tampa when I joined the Marine Corp in 1972,” Mash recalled.