About The Advance. (Vidalia, Ga.) 2003-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 2023)
The ADVANCE, Morch 8, 2023/Page 16A (Eift Aiiuancg Livestock Exhibitors Take the Arena in Montgomery County By Lauren Stanley Montgomery County ANR/4-H UGA Extension Agent Several Montgomery County exhibitors loaded up their swine projects early in the morning on Satur day February 18, and made their way to the Montgom ery County Farm Bureau livestock arena to compete in the annual livestock show, which was judged by Michael Kirkland of Wayne County This year’s exhibitors were Levi Medlock, Land- on Burns, Alice Braddy, Ta tum Williams, Sawyer Med lock, Luke Burns, Patricia Home, and Mason Con nell. The students brought a total of 17 pigs to the show to vie for titles in showman ship and weight classes. Showmanship Division The show began with showmanship classes, which judge how well the students exhibit their ani mals. Sawyer Medlock took home first place in Pre- Club Showmanship with his brother Levi Medlock, who followed, earning a close second place. Land- on Burns won the Novice Showmanship Class. Alice Braddy and Ta tum Williams competed for the Junior Showmanship title. Braddy was named the Junior Showmanship cham pion and Williams came in second. The competition in the Senior Showmanship class was intense, as Luke Burns, Patricia Horne, and Mason Connell all compet ed for the title. Burns was named Champion Senior Showman, while Home took second and Connell came in third. Barrow Division Immediately following showmanship was the bar- row show. Barrows were broken up by weight into fight, medium, and heavy classes. Luke Bums and his pig “Rascal” won the fight barrow class, while Patricia Home and “Cash” came in second. In the medium barrow class, Alice Braddy and “Diggory” took first, as Mason Connell and “Babe” claimed second, and Land- on and “Superman” trailed in third place. The heavy barrow class finished up barrow weight classes. Ma son Connell and “Brutus” took home the gold, fol lowed by Tatum Williams and “Blackeyed Pea” in sec- pion Barrow was sponsored by Altamaha Bank and Trust, while the Reserve Champion Barrow was sponsored by Mount Ver non Bank. Gilt Division The gilt show began with the fight gilt weight class. Luke Burns and “Su sie” took first place in the fight class, and his pig, “Sal ly Gal,” also claimed second in the same class. Patricia ■ LK^l c 1 > ** M (M & - - m\ H MourBoier §1 BRED msHrI MONTGOMERY BRED GRAND CHAMPION - In the event's traditional Montgomery Bred Division, in which all pigs who did not place otherwise in the competition and were bred/raised within the county are eligible, it was London Burns and his gilt, Sally Gal, that took home the gold. L to R: Montgomery County Farm Bureau Represen tative Jody Wells, London Burns, Judge Michael Kirkland. ond place. All class winners re turned to the ring for the Grand and Reserve Cham pion Drive. Luke Burns’s pig, “Rascal,” from the fight barrow weight class, was named Grand Champion, and Alice Braddy’s pig, “Diggory,” from the me dium barrow weight class, won Reserve Champion Barrow. The Grand Cham- Horne and “Fancy” fin ished third in the fight class, as Sawyer Medlock’s “Milk n Cookies” took home the fourth place prize. Landon Burns and “Su perwoman” took first in the medium gilt weight class, as Patricia Horne and “Jolene” took second, and Levi Med lock and “Milk n Oreos” trailed in third. In the heavy gilt class, Alice Braddy won with her pig “Polly” fol- BEST IN THE AREA - These students were among the best student musicians in the area, who all gathered for a chance at performing together through this opportunity. Sound Tribe Members Play in District Honors Band The Vidalia Sound Tribe was represented well during February at the an nual District 1 Honor Band in Savannah, as three band members, Autumn Har ris, Hunter Loosberg, and Naomi Troester, were se lected to perform. This opportunity came after a rigorous audition on their instruments in December where they se cured their seats in the en sembles. The Honor Bands are composed of the top band students from adja cent counties from Vidalia to Savannah. Dr. Beth Taylor, Direc tor of Bands at Vidalia City Schools, said, “We are ex tremely proud of these stu- TALENTED MUSICIANS - Three band members from the Vidalia High School Sound Tribe were selected to partici pate in the District Honors Band in Savannah after hav ing completed a difficult audition in December. L to R: Naomi Troester, Hunter Loosberg, and Autumn Harris. dents in representing Vida- should most certainly be lia at this event, and they proud of their hard work!” MONTGOMERY LIVESTOCK SHOW EXHIBITORS - Eight students from Montgomery Coun ty took their prized pigs to the arena to show in the Montgomery County Livestock Show on Saturday, February 18, Lto R, front row: Levi Medlock, Sawyer Medlock. Lto R, middle row: Alice Braddy, Landon Burns. L to R, back row: Luke Burns, Mason Connell, Patricia Horne, and Tatum Williams, lowed by Mason Connell, who claimed second and third in the class with his pigs “Miley” and “Big Ber tha.” All class winners re turned to the ring for the Grand and Reserve Cham pion Drive. Luke Burns’s pig “Susie” from the fight gilt weight class was named Grand Champion Gilt, while Alice Braddy’s pig “Polly” from the heavy gilt weight class claimed Re serve Champion Gilt. The Grand Champion Gilt was sponsored by Altamaha EMC, and the Reserve Champion Gilt was spon sored by AgSouth Farm Credit Vidalia. Montgomery Bred Division The Montgomery Bred Division followed the gilt and barrow show. Any pig raised/bred in Montgom ery County that did not claim a grand or reserve title was eligible to show in this division. Four pigs were exhib ited in the Montgomery Bred Division. The Grand Champion Montgomery Bred was shown by Landon Burns (“Sally Gal”) and the Reserve Champion Montgomery Bred was ex hibited by Mason Connell (“Babe”). The Montgomery Bred Division is sponsored by Montgomery County Farm Bureau. Adult Showmanship & Youth Open Divisions Adult showmanship and the youth open division concluded the show in a fun way. There were two classes of adults vying for the adult showmanship title, which was judged by Judge Mi chael Kirkland and Senior Showmanship Champion Luke Burns. John Braddy took home the plaque for adult showmanship, with Tracy Braddy, Sheila Braddy, Eric Moxley, and Russ Connell rounding out the adults that made final drive. In the youth open division, Bray Williamson and John Brad dy Jr. were named the top two exhibitors. For more information on showing livestock, con tact your local agriculture teacher or extension agent. 1 6 5 4 1 3 9 8 2 1 3 9 8 2 5 8 7 4 8 2 4 7 6 9 5 3 1 2 5 8 3 4 7 1 9 8 8 9 1 2 5 8 7 4 3 3 4 7 6 9 1 2 5 8 5 7 6 1 8 4 3 2 9 4 1 3 9 7 2 8 6 5 9 8 2 5 3 8 4 1 7 2023 Black History Gala Trailblazer Nominees Pictured: Robert Tillman, Harry Zeigler, Tiffany Lanier- Pearson, Mary Wardlaw, Elizabeth Williams, Santina Fryer, JoAnn Anderson, Angielea Henry, Carol Hansley, Wilson Johnson Becoming One Outreach Ministries, Inc. under the leadership of Pastors Troy & Carmela Williams hosted their inaugural Black History Gala on February 25, 2023. Ten Trailblazer Awards were distributed to African American leaders that are making a difference in our region. Captain Robert Tillman won the People's Choice Award and received a check for $500 for Safe Kids Toombs County. Two young men shared from the theme I Am Black History: Ceasar Adams of JRT Middle School and Jacob Carr of Ap pling County Middle School, Live Music was performed by The Glory Band and the feature presentation was from Giwayan Mata. GIWAYEN MATA es tablished in 1993 is the award-winning, dy namic, soul-stirring, all-sistah dance, percus sion, and vocal ensemble. We would like to thank every guest, participant, volunteer & sponsor. Special Thanks to our Gold sponsor Chicken of the Sea & Silver Sponsor - Trane Technologies.
