Over 1,257 projects judged during 2007 Youth Fair

Week-long event showcases talents of Angelina students

The 58th annual Angelina County Youth Fair, which began last Monday with the broiler show, culminated with the annual sale and auction this past Friday night. Participants from throughout the county exhibited their prize-winning projects for the last time, not in front of the judges, but an audience filled with ‘the folks with the money'.

Once again, buyers dipped deep into the coffers and produced a record-breaking $282,450.00 to purchase the projects of the dedicated young people of Angelina County selected by judges as winners in various categories. The $282-plus bested the 2006 total by $27,600. Only grand champion and reserve grand champion entries in livestock catergories and first place winners in other events make it to the sale arena.

Many youngsters representing Diboll 4-H and FFA organizations brought home a plethora of red, white and blue ribbons in addition to several ‘best of show' titles.

According to Todd Kassaw, coordinator for the event, there were approximately 840 students showing a total of 1,257 projects during the 2007 edition of the fair. The breakdown shows that a total of 463 arts and crafts projects wer entered along with 52 steers, 9 pens, commercial heifers, 101 goats, 36 lambs, 100 hogs, 27 breeding gilts, 32 beef heifers, 51 pens of chickens, 36 horses and 10 pens of market rabbits. Also 34 breeding rabbits. 37 entered the Pee Wee division, 29 projects were entered in Ag. mechanics and 240 home economics projects.

Some of the winners include: Tyler Sullivan, Lufkin, grand champion steer; Garrett Newton, Livestock 4-H, reserve champion steer; and Zach Lenderman, Diboll FFA, champion light steer.

Also, Holli McCary, Diboll FFA, champion medium light steer; Cheyenne Swor, Diboll FFA, reserve champion hog and reserve champion medium weight class three; Maddison Capps, Diboll 4-H, reserve champion, class two medium light weight.

In the market lamb show, Cheyenne Swor, Diboll 4-H exhibited the champion lightweight lamb, while Krystal Ferguson, Diboll FFA presented the champion medium/light weight lamb.

Others from Diboll were Jennifer Reeder and Dallas Renfro, both of Diboll 4-H who place first and second with their Hampshire breed gilts. Laura Ware, Diboll 4-H exhibited the champion Duroc.

Placing first in the home economics candy division, pre-senior was Courtney Franks, Diboll 4-H.

Others bringing top awards back to Diboll were Clay Powell, Trey Linton, Sarah Harris, Chris Sparks, Jared Thompson and Zach Lenderman plus many, many more.

A complete list of winners in each division will be featured in next week's edition of the Diboll Free Press which will also be filled with pictures from the show and sale. Also, be sure to visit out website, www.dibollfreepress.com for keepsake photos that can be a wonderful addition to a younsters photo album.