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Savanna Benc
St. Anthony’s 4-H
Savanna BencSavanna just recently finished 7th grade at Stone Ridge Christian School. She is currently the President of St. Anthony’s 4-H and is finishing her 2nd year of membership. St. Anthony’s 4-H was in a transitional year with the possibility of closing when the parents of St. Anthony’s school were asked to take over the leadership of the club. Savanna’s Mom, Noel Benc, formally Nunes, was the very first President of St. Anthony’s 4-H. Savanna’s family felt it was their obligation to continue the family tradition of membership in St. Anthony’s 4-H after learning of the potential closure. Current and former projects for Savanna include Foods and Nutrition, Arts and Crafts, Photography and her favorite…Sheep, under the guidance of her wonderful leader, Barbara Burroughs! After the outbreak of COVID last year, Savanna decided to wait on raising a sheep until this year. She is raising a Hampshire female that she named Bean (Coffee Bean). Savanna works with Bean every day and truly enjoys it. She walks Bean regularly around the lagoon and through the cow barn on the former dairy of her grandparents George and Mimi Nunes. Savanna is sad that Bean will be gone soon but understands that this is how the Livestock industry works
Emily Duval
Golden Valley FFA
Emily Duval attends Golden Valley High school and is a Junior. Emily shows competitive market hogs and is an active member of Golden Valley FFA, and is in dance outside of school and on the livestock judging team at Golden Valley. Emily got involved in FFA as a sophomore in high school and since then her passion has grown for pigs. Emily‘s most recent accomplishments are getting the workhorse award for Golden Valley FFA and getting second in market at the Revival Jackpot show. Emily is excited about attending her first Merced County Fair and feels blessed that she gets to spend the week with her fellow FFA members doing what they love…showing pigs.
The 2021 Merced County Fair’s modified in-person Livestock Show and Sale begins this Thursday, June 10 and runs until Friday, June 11.
Then, the Merced County Fair Livestock Sale will be Saturday, June 12 beginning at 8:30 a.m. in the Yosemite Hall at the Merced County Fairgrounds with a livestream of the showring in the Hilmar Cheese Barn.
There are nearly 500 hardworking 4-H, FFA and Independent exhibitors participating in this year’s modified in-person livestock show and sale at the Merced County Fair.
“We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our 4-H and FFA kids, along with their ability to adapt to unprecedented circumstances over the past year – it has truly been outstanding” said Teresa Burrola, CEO of the Merced County Fair. “They have been working tirelessly to promote the sale and their projects to potential buyers and while this year isn’t perfectly normal – it is close to the normal livestock show and sale experience that these kids have missed greatly. We really want to call on the community to come out and support them, making this year’s sale a success and helping these youth recoup their investment on their animal projects.”
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s Merced County Fair Livestock Show & Sale will be a ticketed event. Admission cost for the parents, family and buyers will be $5 per person. Passes will be available for purchase at the gate for either show or sale days.
The Merced County Fair Livestock Show will take place in the Les McCabe Arena, Hilmar Cheese Barn, Dairy Show Ring and the Glacier Barn on June 10 and 11. A schedule of activities is available on the fair’s website. The Merced County Fair’s Livestock Sale will happen on June 12 and will place buyers in the Yosemite Hall watching a livestream of the 4-H and FFA students who will be showing in the Hilmar Cheese Barn while auctioneers work the crowd for the best price for each animal. The split location set-up allows for a greater number of buyers to attend, while allowing for social distancing.
To gain awareness for the modified in-person Livestock Show & Sale, the Merced County Fair is showcasing a variety of 4-H and FFA chapters and students that are participating in the sale, with its “Chapter Features”. The goal is to continue to showcase the importance of 4-H and FFA programs, the experiences they provide and the hard work of these students. Chapter Features are posted at www.mercedcountyfair.com/chapter-features.
Now more than ever it is important that the community comes together to support these 4-H and FFA students who have invested a lot of time and money into their animal projects. Don’t forget you don’t have to purchase an animal to participate; buyers can also simply place add-on bids. Buyers within the past two years do not need to re- register. New buyers or those who have not been active in the past two years, will need to register by contacting the livestock office by phone at (209) 722-1421 or by email at [email protected] Buyers can also register on-site day of sale.
Additionally, there is great opportunity for local businesses to become a sponsor to not only get exposure for their business, but most importantly, support these kids. If businesses are interested in sponsorships, email [email protected]
The Merced County Fair livestock staff will be available to answer questions via phone at (209) 722-1421 or by email at [email protected]