2013 Louisiana State Livestock Show

After competing very well in the Parish and District Livestock Shows, Russ completed his high school livestock showing career in Gonzales this weekend at the 2013 Louisiana State Livestock Show.  This show used to be on LSU's campus in Baton Rouge, but the nightmare of parking and traffic on campus moved the show about 18 miles east to the Lamar Dixon Expo Center.  This facility is a very nice one, I might add.  Since school was out for the week for Mardi Gras, the boys didn't miss any school at all.  They left on Thursday morning and we returned Saturday afternoon.

There are many different barns and exhibit halls at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center.  We were housed in Barn 6 which had spacious stalls and plenty of room for milking and grooming the animals prior to the show.  Here is Russ and Maggie Mae enjoying a little down-time prior to the show.


Taking it easy

The weather was spectacular and the American Jersey Association had an informal Showmanship show outside one afternoon.


American Jersey Association Showmanship out on the grounds

Normally, these shows are inside an arena under lights and on sawdust/wood shavings.  Daisy was enamored with all the green grass around her and was somewhat distracted.


Russ and Daisy

In the official Showmanship competition Friday afternoon, which included all exhibitors from Parishes all over the State and with all breeds of Dairy cows, Russ and Daisy placed Fifth and got a nice yellow ribbon.  The Dairy group had a Jambalaya meal for all the exhibitors and their families after the Showmanship competition and it was enjoyed by all.


Russ & Daisy with his 5th Place ribbon

Saturday morning began the regular shows which began with registered Jersey heifers.  Maggie Moo was in a huge class of heifers.  Maggie was well-behaved during the show.  She's getting the hang of this. 

Russ and Magnolia in the show ring

Maggie ended up getting Third Place in her class and First Place Louisiana Bred Jersey heifer.


Third Place in Class - First Place Louisiana Bred

Of course, Maggie wanted to eat the ribbons!

Hungry for success

As Maggie and Russ continued showing Maggie won Reserve Junior Champion Yearling Louisiana Bred and got a really nice rosette ribbon.


Nice.

Russ and Maggie eventually won Overall Reserve Junior Champion Louisiana Bred Jersey heifer and got a really nifty ribbon with tassels hanging off of it.  Russ was happy and I think Maggie was proud of herself.

Overall Reserve Junior Champion Louisiana Bred Jersey Heifer

Rosie and Daisy both did well in their respective classes, placing third at State - which is great.  We later showed as a Parish Group.  The object is that each Parish shows a group of four animals and you want them to be a block of animals that are equivalent in size.  Our Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, placed second.


Jefferson Davis Parish Jersey group

Here is a picture of Russ' winnings from the Louisiana State Livestock Show.  He did a nice job!  These will look nice hanging on Russ' wall.


Nice Ribbons

Here is a zoom in of his biggest one.  He went out in a blaze of glory, winning his biggest award in his very last show.


Reserve Champion Louisiana Bred

My Mom & Dad were able to watch all the shows on Friday and Saturday and Laura Lee drove in from LSU to cheer Russ on in his last show.  Benjamin expressed an interest and so he may be showing Daisy, Rosie and Maggie next year.  We'll see how that goes.  At the livestock show, Russ was able to meet and talk to an LSU Dairy Science professor as well as some students that he knows in the Agriculture Department.  They were able to tell him about the College of Agriculture and what he might expect this Fall when he enrolls.  (Wow, time marches on!)