Supporting the Dreams and Dedication of the local 4-H and FFA Youth at the California Mid-State Fair Livestock Auction
At Delta Liquid Energy, our commitment to the community goes beyond providing energy solutions. We proudly support the aspirations of local youth through 4-H and FFA programs. This year’s participation in the California Mid-State Fair was especially memorable as we cheered on and supported the hardworking participants in the livestock auction.
This year at the fair, IT Manager Jeff Phillips, along with Director of Sales & Marketing Allison Platz-Velazquez and Marketing Manager Becca Scott, joined the vibrant crowd, equipped to support our local youth. Jeff, with bidding paddle at the ready, was focused and excited to outbid local competitors, demonstrating our commitment to fostering young agricultural talents.
In preparation for the auction, Jeff diligently reviewed an impressive 210 buyer letters from 4-H and FFA members, each making a heartfelt case for support of their livestock projects. We appreciate every letter we receive and truly wish we could back every request. Yet, with the vast number of appeals, strategic decisions were necessary to extend our support as broadly as possible.
This year, we managed to aid 19 kids across 10 different 4-H and FFA programs. Our team successfully secured 9 animals—including 1 goat, 3 sheep, and 5 pigs, one of which was the celebrated Supreme Grand Champion Market Hog, and provided additional financial contributions to members whose animals received the lowest bids, ensuring they were justly rewarded for their efforts. We invested a total of $25,800 into the future of these dedicated young farmers. In a gesture of community support, two of the pigs will be processed and donated to local organizations.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the young farmers who we had a chance to support this year:
Lincoln Rodgers (on right), 12, Creston 4-H – Supreme Grand Champion Market Hog
Lincoln Rodgers was introduced to the world of livestock by his uncle, a prominent figure in the industry. Following in his uncle’s footsteps, Lincoln has been showing pigs for the past three years, quickly learning the ropes of responsibility and dedication required in animal care.
This year, Lincoln faced the challenging task of training his pig to walk properly, an essential skill for showing. Despite this, he found the overall experience to be manageable thanks to his commitment and the strong support from his family. Balancing his time between school, soccer, football, and FFA activities has taught him effective time management.
Lincoln’s diligent attention to biosecurity and regular health maintenance like worming his pig were key in keeping his animal in top condition. His hard work and dedication paid off spectacularly when he achieved his goal of not only winning a breed but also earning the title of Supreme Grand Champion Market Hog at this year’s fair. The victory was a proud moment for Lincoln and his family, especially his mother, who shared in his joy and pride.
As he looks to the future, Lincoln is excited to continue his journey in animal showing and is considering branching out to sheep next year.
Elizabeth Morton, 16, Mission College Prep FFA – Pig
Elizabeth Morton embarked on her journey in livestock showing last year with lambs in Cerro Alto’s 4-H program in King City, sparking her transition to pigs upon the introduction of an FFA chapter at Mission College Prep. Inspired by her father’s experiences with pigs during his high school years, Elizabeth chose to focus on pigs, drawn to their intelligence and ease of care compared to lambs.
Having previously raised meat pigs, Elizabeth is skilled in tasks from castration to butchering, bringing a wealth of practical knowledge to her FFA projects. Her work with show pigs has further honed her abilities in clipping, calculating weight gain, and overall animal management. Despite breaking her foot, which required her to navigate the barn on crutches and protect her cast with a trash bag, Elizabeth’s dedication never wavered. This challenging period underscored the lessons in responsibility and time management she values deeply.
Elizabeth’s academic pursuits include an agricultural business class that taught her critical business concepts like SWOT analysis, preparing her for a future beyond farming. Her passion for industrial agriculture, highlighted by her creation of a metal chandelier for an industrial ag project, has her considering a career in this field or in agricultural education.
Emma Webster, 16, Pozo 4-H – Goat
From a young age, Emma Webster has been immersed in the agricultural world. Her journey began when her sister started showing rabbits and eventually goats, inspiring their family to delve into goat breeding. Emma’s goat, affectionately named Froggy for his jumping habit, is a product of these family efforts.
Emma has been an active participant in agriculture since she was five, with her involvement in 4-H deepening her understanding of livestock care, breeding cycles, and the financial and time commitments required. These experiences have not only taught her responsibility and money management but have also helped her forge lasting friendships and clarify her future career aspirations in agriculture, possibly as a veterinarian.
Her commitment to excellence in goat showing is evident. She has dedicated more time this year to mastering the nuances of showmanship, particularly bracing, a challenging but crucial skill for competitive showing. Emma’s efforts paid off at as she won a “Bred and Fed” show, where she proudly presented a goat she had bred and raised herself.
Emma’s advice to other young people considering 4-H is to embrace the experience: “Have fun with it. It’s a great experience and it gives you a lot of great life skills.” Balancing her studies through independent schooling allows Emma to spend valuable time with her animals.
Andrew Ryals, 14, Ranchito Canyon 4-H – Sheep
When Andrew Ryals moved to a new home with a barn at the age of 8, he seized the opportunity to raise livestock, choosing sheep as they seemed the easiest to handle and show. Through 4-H, Andrew has not only learned about the importance of agriculture globally but has also developed significant personal skills like responsibility and independence.
Andrew’s routine involves early mornings and busy evenings, balancing school, football practice, and caring for his sheep. This packed schedule has taught him valuable time management skills. Over one challenging summer, his sheep fell ill for two weeks, requiring Andrew to administer medications and monitor its health closely, further strengthening his dedication and resilience.
While still undecided about his future career, Andrew is confident that the skills he’s acquiring through 4-H—such as leadership and problem-solving—will benefit him in any path he chooses. His experience underscores the value of 4-H in preparing young individuals not only for careers in agriculture but for diverse future roles.
Scarlett Wicks, 12, Templeton 4-H – Sheep
Scarlett Wicks, inspired by her grandmother and brothers who have long been involved in raising livestock, chose to continue the family tradition with sheep. From a young age, Scarlett has learned responsibility and developed empathy through her care for the animals, especially knowing the process of what happens once sold.
Deeply committed to her 4-H activities, Scarlett has grown personally by making new friends and strengthening bonds within her community. Her experiences have also nurtured her aspiration to become a livestock judge and to pursue agricultural studies throughout high school.
Scarlett has participated in numerous smaller shows, known as “Jackpot,” with her sheep named Hippo, aptly named for his size. Managing Hippo’s unique needs, such as adjusting his diet and exercise due to back issues, has taught her the importance of tailored animal care.
Scarlett enthusiastically recommends 4-H to others, highlighting the invaluable life skills it imparts: “DEFINITELY do it because it teaches you so much and gives you a lot of important life skills.”
Elizabeth (Lizzy) Mott, 11, El Paso de Robles 4-H – Sheep
Lizzy Mott comes from a family deeply rooted in animal husbandry, with both her father, aunt, and other family members raising livestock. Following in their footsteps, Lizzy has taken to raising sheep and dreams of managing cattle in the future.
Lizzy’s participation in 4-H has significantly boosted her personal development, enhancing her ability to meet new people and improve her communication skills. Her favorite moments come during fair time, where she gets to showcase her sheep, Pookie—a name that reflects the affection she holds for her animals.
Managing her responsibilities has taught Lizzy the importance of adhering to a strict schedule to balance school, extracurricular activities, and livestock care. She faced a particular challenge with Pookie, who would startle during judging due to not being pushed firmly enough, a lesson that taught her the nuances of handling under pressure.
With steadfast family support making her daily tasks more manageable, Lizzy achieved her goal of improving over the previous year and is eager to continue refining her skills in future shows.
Connor Wills, 16, Templeton FFA – Pig
Connor Wills has been immersed in the world of livestock from a young age, with his mom’s cousin owning a dairy and numerous family members engaged in animal husbandry. At home, Connor takes care of a pregnant cow, 12 chickens, a dog, and collaborates with his two sisters who raise and show pigs for Templeton 4-H.
Through his daily interactions with animals, Connor has learned the virtue of patience—understanding that animals often have their own minds and schedules. This experience has reinforced the broader lessons of FFA programs, which emphasize the critical role of agriculture in sustaining life and the necessity of caring for animals responsibly.
Connor’s ambitions extend beyond farming; he is keen on pursuing a career in the trades, with interests in becoming a welder, lineman, or firefighter, and has already been honing his welding skills through three years of school courses.
His advice to others in FFA or considering joining is straightforward and enthusiastic: “Do it. It’s the best thing in the world. You learn so much and it’s just so fun.” He emphasizes the importance of patience and not overworking animals, suggesting about 30 minutes of focused interaction each day.
Balancing school and his responsibilities at home, Connor ensures that caring for his animals is a priority, with family support playing a crucial role in managing their care. Together with his sisters, they maintain a routine of feeding, walking, and washing their pigs, demonstrating teamwork and shared commitment to their agricultural responsibilities.
Krew Dadson, 14, Atascadero FFA – Pig
Krew Dadson grew up in a family where raising livestock was a way of life. Inspired by his parents and sister, who have all been involved in farming pigs, cattle, and lambs, Krew naturally gravitated towards continuing this family tradition.
At just 14 years old, Krew has already been raising pigs for nearly a decade, learning the values of hard work, dedication, and responsibility along the way. These experiences have solidified his desire to pursue a future in the agricultural industry.
This year, Krew faced the particular challenge of maintaining his pig’s health amidst an outbreak that affected many animals. His commitment to his pig’s well-being underscored the daily realities and responsibilities of livestock care.
A healthy spirit of competition with his sister has fueled Krew’s ambitions in showmanship. Striving to excel past his sibling’s achievements provides him with a clear, motivating goal and drives him to continuously improve his skills and understanding of animal handling.
Georgia Miller, SLO FFA – Pig
Georgia Miller is a dedicated member of the San Luis Obispo FFA, embarking on her first year with FFA after a successful year showing with 4-H. As she transitions into her freshman year at SLO High, Georgia continues to deepen her involvement in agricultural activities.
This year, Georgia showcased her hog, named Chewy, demonstrating the skills and knowledge she has acquired over her two years of involvement in livestock exhibitions. Despite being relatively new to FFA, her prior experience with 4-H has provided a solid foundation in animal care and showmanship.
Our involvement in the California Mid-State Fair is a highlight of our year at Delta Liquid Energy. We are honored to play a part in nurturing the next generation of agricultural leaders.
Interested in learning more about how 4-H and FFA shape future leaders? Visit our blog to discover more inspiring stories from the fair!