COVID-19 may have knocked out the Rockdale Fair Association schedule, but not the spirit of the fair as the 45th annual event came to a bountiful end Saturday night with the livestock auction at Fair Park.
With not all of the money counted, the youth sale amount stood at $478,540, busting last year’s record of $447,315
The commercial heifers brought in another $198,830, while the baked foods added $18,535 and the ag mechanics’ $13,170 brought the total so far to $709,075. There is more money coming in, fair officials said, as the books on this year’s fair have not yet closed.
“I think the fair went very well. This year was more laid back because the schedule wasn’t as hectic,” said fair association president Johnny Hill. “There wasn’t as much going on.
“But at the end of the day, we achieved our purpose in supporting the kids of Milam County. We had a great show, a great sale,” he said Sunday after the Saturday night sale. “Thanks to all the buyers who make all this possible for the kids.”
In the commercial heifer competition, Kolman Hengst of the Thorndale 4-H won grand champion honors, while Hunter Clark of the Thorndale FFA received the reserve banner.
In the ag mechanic division of the fair competition, Carter Brymer of the Thorndale FFA won the senior grand champion honor, while Wyatt Smith also of the Thorndale FFA claimed the reserve title.
In the junior category, Colton Stewart of the Milano Junior FFA took the grand champion banner and Rockdale 4-H member Kaylor Eschberger won the reserve honor,
“This year is one like we have not seen in recent years, but I would personally like to thank the Rockdale Fair board of directors for all the hard work and dedication this year working through these tough working through these tough times and many changes that have been thrown our way,” Hill said.
He is looking for a return to normal for next year’s fair.
“We hope to see everyone for a full schedule for the fair next year,” he said.
The association’s incoming president shares that hope.
“I think next year we are going to have more,” said Jimmy Patin, who will be president at the 46th edition of the fair. “I just think we are going to get this thing back to the normal fair we have in October.”
He also plans to bring back some of the things that made up the fair when he used to go as a youth, he noted.
Patin’s son Stiles was a big winner in this year’s fair. The younger Patin won two grand champion banners and one reserve championship Friday at the fairgrounds.
However, Patin, 15, is no stranger to the winner’s circle.
With his double win in the breeding heifer category, he has now been the grand champion in that event for four years in a row.
Stiles, a freshman at Thorndale High School, is a member of both the Future Farmers of America and the 4-H Club.
He has been showing animals since he was 6 or 7 years old, he said, “and puts in a lot of work turning out strong competitors.”
“On days I don’t have school, I spend all day taking care of them. On school days, I get all my work done in the barn before school,” he said after winning grand champion steer with Swayze.
He gave the steer that name a while back when showing the steer and the judge said Patin had hair like the late Patrick Swayze.
Patin has plenty of other interests outside of his cattle raising, he plays football, basketball, tennis and runs track, he said.
Once he is finished with his high school career, he hopes to attend either Texas A&M or Oklahoma State to study animal embryology, he said.
“I want to be on the livestock judging team, too,” he said.
Here are the livestock show standings:
STEER
Grand champion—Stiles Patin, Thorndale 4-H.
Reserve champion—Shawn Leifeste, Cameron 4-H.
3. Kennedy Hobbs, Thorndale 4-H.
4. Landree Leifeste, Cameron 4-H.
5. Kenzie Hobbs, Thorndale 4-H. 6. Wyatt Woods, Cameron
6. Wyatt Woods, Cameron 4-H.
7. Jayden Fuchs, Rockdale 4-H.
8. Warren Woods, Cameron 4-H.
9. Averee Wadlington, Cameron FFA.
10. Wylie Butler Rockdale 4-H.
11. Mason Leifeste, Cameron 4-H.
12. Hunter Clark, Thorndale FFA.
13. Dara Doelitsch, Milano FFA.
14. Taytum Moore, Cameron 4-H.
15. Haygen Wadlington, Cameron Jr. FFA.
16. Mckenna Muston, Rockdale 4-H.
17. Garrett Reed, Milano FFA.
18. Madison Reed, Milano Jr. FFA.
SWINE
Grand champion—Kynlie Cargill, Thorndale FFA.
Reserve champion—Riley Clinard, Thorndale 4-H.
3. Kenan Mingus, Cameron 4-H.
4. Rayelee Keen, Milano Jr. FFA.
5. Adison Dach, Cameron Jr. FFA.
6. Jacie Hartley, Milano FFA.
7. Cayson Cargill, Thorndale 4-H.
8. Jaxon Clinard, Thorndale 4-H.
9. Case Travis, Thorndale 4-H.
10. Natalynn Freeman, Cameron Jr. FFA.
11. Ethan Chaudoin, Thorndale FFA.
12. Justus Christman, Milano Jr. FFA.
13. Kloie Cargill, Thorndale FFA.
14. Rekless Keen, Milano Jr. FFA.
15. Camryn Travis, Thorndale 4-H.
16. Gracie Rasco, Milano FFA.
17. Jolee Keen, Milano Jr. FFA.
LAMB
Grand champion—Leah Pfeiffer, Cameron FFA.
Reserve champion—Kinley Meadors, Thorndale 4-H.
3. Hadley Meadors, Thorndale 4-H.
4. Caylee Butler, Milano 4-H.
5. Kale Meadors, Thorndale 4-H.
6. Caiden Eason, Cameron Jr. FFA.
7. Kade Becker, Thorndale Jr. FFA.
8. Emma McAnulty, Cameron 4-H.
9. Carlie Eason, Cameron Jr. FFA.
10. Laramie Mahan, Cameron 4-H.
11. Mackenzie Mahan, Cameron 4-H.
12. Colby McAnulty, Cameron 4-H.
13. Jonathan Woerndel, Cameron 4-H.
14. Harleigh Barrett, Thorndale 4-H.
15. Cheyenne Woerndel, Cameron 4-H.
16. David Woerndel, Cameron 4-H.
17. Wylie Barrett, Thorndale 4-H.
RABBITS
Grand champion—Hampton Barton, Cameron 4-H.
Reserve champion—Kevin Junek, Cameron FFA.
3. Ethan Schramm, Thorndale Jr. FFA.
4. Brady Barton, Cameron 4-H.
5. Shiner Thurman, Milano Jr. FFA.
6. Connor Barton, Cameron FFA.
7. Katelynn Stewart, Milano FFA.
8. Madison Gonzales, Rockdale Jr. FFA.
9. Harrison Bender, Thorndale FFA.
10. Colby Barton, Cameron FFA.
11. Jadon Moody, Rockdale 4-H.
12. Garrett Schramm, Thorndale Jr. FFA.
13. Jaxson Davis, Thorndale 4-H.
14. Brantley McKendrick, Thorndale 4-H.
15. Garrett Powers, Thorndale 4-H.
16. Brooklyn Summers, Cameron Jr. FFA.
17. Camryn Green, Cameron FFA.
18. Jayci Thurman, Milano Jr. FFA.
GOATS
Grand champion—Kyrene Jackson, Thorndale 4-H.
Reserve champion—Colton Towery, Thorndale FFA.
3. Jacob Jackson, Thorndale 4-H.
4. Addalyn Gunn, Cameron 4-H.
5. Jaxon Owens, Milano 4-H.
6. Emma Roberts, Rockdale FFA.
7. Chloe Grimm, Thorndale FFA.
8. Sloan Sanders, Cameron 4-H.
9. Brady Havens, Cameron FFA.
10. Jenna Lindig, Thorndale FFA.
11. Karice Carrasco, Cameron 4-H.
12. Silas Mayer, Cameron 4-H.
13. Kiersten Hubnik, Cameron FFA.
14. Mario Owens, Milano Jr. FFA.
15. Makenzie Becker, Thorndale FFA.
16. Kambri Carrasco, Cameron 4-H.
17. Jude Penick, Milano 4-H.
18. Jason Penick, Thorndale 4-H.
TURKEYS
Grand champion—Lyndon Stifflemire, Cameron 4-H.
Reserve champion—Lukas Stifflemire, Cameron Jr. FFA.
3. Kayla Ehler, Rockdale Jr. FFA.
4. Karsen Galvan, Cameron FFA.
5. Olivia Stifflemire, Cameron Jr. FFA.
6. Ari Kornokovich, Thorndale 4-H.
7. Trenton Berry, Cameron FFA.
8. Montgomery Popham, Milano FFA.
9. Hayes Berry, Cameron 4-H.
10. Abigail Mayer, Cameron FFA.
11. Cooper Popham, Milano FFA.
12. Lucas Tate, Rockdale 4-H.
13. MaryLynn Tate, Rockdale 4-H.
BROILERS
Grand champion—Gabriel Ramthun, Thorndale FFA.
Reserve champion—Breleigh Glaser, Cameron Jr. FFA.
3. Hayden Johnson, Thorndale 4-H.
4. Cheyenne Stevenson, Thorndale 4-H.
5. J.W. Hollas, Cameron 4-H.
6. Aiyanna Stevenson, Thorndale 4-H.
7. Emily Minatrea, Cameron FFA.
8. Chase Tomek, Cameron FFA.
9. Vanessa Hadley, Cameron 4-H.
10. Mason Hendrix, Rockdale FFA.
11. J.W. Minatrea, Cameron FFA.
12. Avery Hendrix, Rockdale FFA.
13. Sarah Tate, Rockdale 4-H.
14. Alexis Tate, Rockdale 4-H.
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