Merced County Fair announces new Livestock Superintendent
4-H, FFA livestock entries will open soon for County Fair
The Merced County Fair is excited to announce Valley native and former Merced resident Terri O’Leary-Collins as its new Livestock Superintendent.
O’Leary-Collins brings over four decades of experience in livestock shows, most recently as the Livestock Superintendent for The Big Fresno Fair, a position she has held for the past eight years and will continue on a contract basis. A graduate of Fresno State, with a B.S. in Animal Science and Agriculture Education, she has turned a love of livestock and fairs into a meaningful career.
“We are happy to welcome Terri to our Merced County Fair team leading our Livestock Department,” said Teresa Burrola, CEO of the Merced County Fair. “Her passion for the fair industry, love of livestock and the entire showing experience will most definitely resonate throughout our barns as we continue provide the best showing experience and learning opportunity for our livestock kids now and into the future.”
O’Leary-Collins grew up in Clovis showing sheep and cattle as an FFA member, where she also judged agronomy. She competed on the livestock judging team and beef show team at Kings River Community College, where she also served as chairman of the livestock contest for Kings River College FFA Field Day and received the award for “Outstanding Animal Science Student.” She then transferred to California State University, Fresno where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Animal Science and Agriculture Education. In her time at Fresno State, Terri showed beef and won the Supreme Champion college steer at the Great Western Livestock Show.
In 1993, O’Leary-Collins moved to Merced with her husband, Rich, to help manage his family-owned dairy calf buying and cattle operations. It was at this time she began working in the fair industry as a clerk with The Big Fresno Fair. In 2005, she started managing the College Livestock judging contest and in 2014, she took over as The Big Fresno Fair’s Livestock Superintendent, a role she continues today on a contract basis. O’Leary-Collins also works with other fairs throughout the state. Not only a Livestock Superintendent, but a livestock parent – her two children, Taylor and Clayton, showed livestock and participated in various ag programs throughout their youth.
“I am thrilled to be part of the Merced community once again, working with the incredible team at the Merced County Fair,” said O’Leary Collins. “I am eager to meet and work with the exhibitors, new and returning, get to know the 4-H and FFA leaders, as well as the strong ag community that supports the fair and its livestock show. I will work diligently to produce a fun, well-organized show that the exhibitors, their families and livestock supporters will enjoy.”
The 2023 Merced County Fair Dairy Replacement Heifer Program and Independent Exhibitor Applications are now available. Additional applications for the 2023 Merced County Fair livestock show and sales will be available soon. Details can be found online at: www.mercedcountyfair.com/livestock-exhibits.
The 2023 Merced County Fair will kick off this summer, June 7 – 11.