Contest attracts big crowd

More than 2,000 FFA and 4-H students were in Clarendon last Saturday, March 27, for the 29th annual Clarendon College Judging Contest.

The contest is the largest event in Clarendon each year, more than doubling the population each time the contestants come to town and is a significant boost on the economy. It draws participants from across Texas as well as from Oklahoma and New Mexico.

This year the total number of entrants was 2,247.  That number does not include coaches, parents, and family members that also attend and visit Clarendon for the day

Several local 4H and FFA members did well at the CC contest. In Livestock Judging, the Donley County 4-H Senior Team of Jacob Pigg, Jayson Pigg, John Pigg, and J.D. Baxter placed sixth.

The Junior Team One of Tres Hommel, Brittney McAnear, Kati Adams, and Jake Owens placed eighth. Tres Hommel was 13th high individual out of 109 contestants.
The Junior Team Two of Blaine Ellis, Jake Hewett, and Kelsey McAnear finished in a three-way tie for 16th place.

The 4-H Horse Judging Senior Team of Chris Shults, Cheyenne Kosechata, and Cedar Stevenson placed sixth; the Junior Team One of Sam Spillers, Kade Hunsaker, and Alysse Simpson placed 12th; and the Junior Team Two of Brandalyn Ellis, Jessica Lowrie, Shelby Musick, and Kolt Stevenson placed seventh.

The Clarendon High School FFA Livestock Team of Jacob Pigg, Jayson Pigg, and John Pigg placed 18th at the CC contest.

Local teams also participated in contests at Texas Tech on March 25 and West Texas A&M on March 26.

The FFA Livestock Team placed 39th of 143 teams at Texas Tech; and the team placed sixth at WT with Jayson Pigg as 17th high individual. FFA Horse Team of Brady Clark and Chris Shults also did well at WT. 

The 4-H Horse Senior Team of Chris Shults, Cedar Stevenson, Brady Clark, and Cheyenne Kosechata placed fifth at WT; the Junior Team One placed ninth; and the Junior Team Two placed eighth. Kosechata was fifth high individual in Halter Horse, and Spillers was fourth high individual in Performance Horse and tenth high overall.

The 4-H Horse teams will compete in the District Contest at WT on April 9, and the 4-H Livestock Team will be at the District I contest at WT on April 16.