Union County 4-H members traveled to West Monroe, Louisiana last weekend to take part in the North Louisiana Ag Expo that was held Friday, Jan. 14, and Saturday, Jan. 15.
Cherrie Sweeney, 4-H program assistant, said in an email that the expo offered wide-ranging activities for the county participants.
"There is an educational area 'Ag Alley' including a mini-farm targeting the youth; a junior livestock show; and a trade show," Sweeney said.
Union County 4-H'ers who participated included Hunter and Haelyn Sweet; Cambry Thurmon; Cole, Wilson, Graham and Graden Hanry; Sadie and Parker Saffold; Casyn Dews; Lucas Kinard; Myra Morgan; Bailey Stephens; and Isable and Eva Telano.
Several of the 4-H members placed in competitions at the event, as well.
Hunter Sweet was Reserve Champion in steer showmanship, second-place in the class AOB heifer competition and the Overall Grand Champion in the mini-Hereford and prospect steer competition. Haelyn Sweet took second-place in her class and fifth in showmanship.
Cole Hanry took second-, third- and fourth-place in the heifer class competition. Graham Hanry was first in the heifer class competition. Graden Hanry was second in the steer class competition.
Parker Saffold won first-place in the steer class competition. Sadie Saffold won second-place in the heifer class competition.
Camry Thurmon took fourth-place in the doe goats class competition. Bailey Stephens won second-place in goat showmanship. Lucas Kinard was fourth in his class with a registered Simmental heifer.
Isabel Telano took first-please in the pee wee showmanship competition adn the shorthorn competition, as well as second-place in the commercial heifer competition. Eva Telano won first-place in the pee ween showmanship competition and tied with Isabel for second-place in the commercial heifer contest.
According to the North Louisiana Ag Expo's website, events in the livestock show last Friday included beef, dairy and goat breeding events; market swine and commercial dairy competition; market steer events; and swine and dairy showmanship contests.
On Saturday, events included market lamb, beef and goat showmanship competitions.
The North Louisiana Ag Expo is hosted by the North Louisiana Agri-Business Council and is described as "unique in the Louisiana, south Arkansas, east Texas and Mississippi area" on the expo's website.
The annual event attracts "10,000 to 12,000 visitors" each year from the region, according to the organization, and focuses on educating "the public, both youth and adult, on the many ways agriculture touches daily lives, from explaining the food chain to the multiple applications of agricultural products."
Union County Extension Agent Shaney Hill praised the 4-H members who participated in the expo at the monthly county Quorum Court meeting Thursday.
"We were well represented this past weekend in Monroe at the ag expo," Hill said.
Hunter and Haelyn Sweet compete in a livestock show at the North Louisiana Ag Expo, held Jan. 14 and 15 in West Monroe. (Contributed)