98th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show--Show Ring Scenery

During the first full week of January, most students are getting back into the routine of going back to school after a much-needed holiday break.  However, for Cumberland Valley FFA members, the beginning of January signaled the beginning of the 98th Annual Pennsylvania Farm Show.  The Farm Show boasts many opportunities for FFA members from across the Commonwealth to display their talents and assist in promoting the story of agriculture to over 1 million visitors at the week-long event.

Saturday, January 4th--Junior Market Goat Show

Four members of CV FFA were preparing to exhibit a market goat in the Junior Market Goat Show against 150+ youth from across the state.  Market goats need to weigh between 65 and 120 pounds to be exhibited at the Farm Show.  In addition, the goal is to have your animal qualify for the Youth Sale of Champions on Tuesday of the following week.  For market goats, only the top 5 placing animals qualify for the sale, making it a very stiff competition.  Here are photos of the competitors and their results:

L. Shatto (Pink shirt) and N. Short (on right) exhibit their market goats in Lightweight Division I.  Shatto placed 5th with her 65-pound market goat, earned "Master Showman" status, and qualified for the Youth Sale.  Short placed 6th with his 65-lb market goat out of 15 entries.

N. Crain (red shirt) exhibits his 72-lb market goat in Lightweight Division II.  Crain placed 8th out of a competitive 15 entries.

A. Emig (far right) placed 3rd in Lightweight Division III and qualified for the Youth Sale on Tuesday.

Sunday, January 5th--Junior Market Lamb Show

A. Miller exhibited a Crossbred market lamb during the Junior Market Lamb Show with his lightweight market lamb.  Miller placed in the middle of Lightweight Division I in the crossbred lamb show.

Monday, January 6th--Junior Market Swine Show

M. Myers exhibited a home-bred crossbred barrow to a 3rd place finish in the one of the most competitive junior events at the PA Farm Show.  By placing 3rd, she too qualified for the Youth Sale of Champions.

Tuesday, January 7th--Junior Livestock Sale of Champions
Even with sub-zero temperatures on a brisk Tuesday morning, three CV FFA members eagerly anticipated the Youth Sale in which they would sell their prized project animals to local businesses that support the 4-H and FFA programs across Pennsylvania.  Shatto, Emig, and Myers eachs sold their respective projects to Cumberland Valley Cooperative, Hoss's Steak and Sea House, and Corner Top Farm.  A hearfelt THANK YOU goes out to each of these buyers for supporting these and other Cumberland Valley FFA members throughout the years at both the PA Farm Show and the Shippensburg Fair.

M. Myers directs her hog in the Sale Ring.  Her barrow was purchased by Corner Top Farm (Ryan and Andrea Brown) of Mechanicsburg.

L. Shatto braces her wether, "Landon" in the Sale Ring.  Cumberland Valley Cooperative was the buyer of this FFA project animal.

A. Emig shows off her 3rd place market goat during the Youth Sale.  Hoss's Steak and Sea House had the final bid on Emig's market goat.