News – July 24th, 2024

Judging kicked off a few minutes after 7:00 Friday morning at the 2024 4-H and FFA Expo where nearly 50 head of market hogs and 13 breeding hogs competed. The seven market hog class winners were Oliver Hutchings, Toby Hayes, Blake Manthey, Delilah Shelton, Wyatt Martin, Lola Clancy, and Justin Fleener. Judge Ethan Blake from Mountain Grove selected Blake Manthey’s 288-pound barrow as Grand Champion Market Hog and Wyatt Martin’s 330-pound hog as Reserve Champion. In the swine breeding stock competition class winners were Westyn Ragsdale, Daxton Hutchings, Oliver Hutchings, Delilah Shelton, James Garcia, Brentlee Easter, and Hayden Ragsdale. Daxton Hutchings’ gilt was selected as Grand Champion and Oliver Hutching’s gilt took Reserve Champion. As usual there was a lot of competition for the Showmanship Awards. Daxton Hutchings won the 8–12-year-old Junior Division, Bryce Martin won the Intermediate age group for 13–15-year-olds, and Wyatt Martin took the Seniors’ division for ages 16-19 years old. Those younger than 8 can show in a non-competitive Pee-Wee Clinic. Exhibitors in this division were Lynlee Easter, Cora Shelton, and Hadlee Tilley. The Sheep and Goat show followed the swine show with 19 head of sheep and 24 goats competing. Market Lamb class winners Tierra Warden, Audrey Barnett, Reagann Chambers, Henley Headrick, Preslie Strader, and Edlyn Cunningham. Strader’s 128-pound lamb was selected as Grand Champion and Joleigh Nash’s 115-pound lamb was Reserve Champion. In the breeding sheep division Preslie Strader’s ewe was chosen as the Grand Champion and Joleigh Nash’s was Reserve Champion. Showmanship winners were Joleigh Nash in the Junior Division, Stetson Mobray in the Intermediate and Preslie Strader won the Senior Division. There was only one Pee-Wee Sheep exhibitor and that was Trevor Brand. In the market goat show class winners were Harley Camden, Kynlee Garrison, Clara Ball, and Payton Parks. Garrison’s goat was selected as Grand Champion and Clara Ball exhibited the Reserve Champion Market Goat. In the breeding goat division class winners were Sawyer Camden and Kynlee Garrison. Garrison’s 7–12-month-old doeling was selected as Grand Champion and Porter Seay’s 7–12-month-old doeling was named Reserve Champion. Goat Showmanship Awards went to Junior Kynlee Garrison, Intermediate Clara Ball and Senior Porter Seay. Participating in the Pee-Wee Goat Clinic were Wyatt Shaw and Haddie Simpson.

To celebrate 35 years of river conservation, Stream Teams United and the Missouri Stream Team Program are hosting the 2024 Watershed Celebration at Meramec State Park on Saturday, July 27th. Missouri Stream Teams from around the state are invited to attend the festival, which also celebrates the 25th anniversary of Stream Teams United, a non-profit partner of the program. The Missouri Stream Team Program is a volunteer-led effort to conserve Missouri streams. Sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and the Conservation Federation of Missouri, the program focuses on education, stewardship, and advocacy for Missouri stream resources. In 1988, a small group of anglers became fed up with unsightly trash disrupting their fishing in Roubidoux Creek in Pulaski County. These conservation-minded Missourians decided to clean this section of stream, thus forming the first Missouri Stream Team in 1989. The Roubidoux Fly Fishers Association, Stream Team #1, is still going strong 35 years later. The program has since grown to more than 6,000 Stream Teams around the state with more than 135,000 volunteers. MDC Engagement Specialist Cara Coates Coates says the ongoing work of more than 6,000 Stream Teams and their volunteers have made significant positive impacts on the health of Missouri’s streams over the last 35 years. That work includes volunteers giving more than 3.5 million hours of time, removing more than 14,127 tons of trash from Missouri waterways, planting 405,794 trees along streams, conducting 35,049 water quality monitoring trips, and stenciling 21,741 storm drains. As part of the Missouri Stream Team Program celebrations they invite all Teams to attend the 28th Annual Watershed Celebration at Meramec State Park on Saturday, July 27. The festival will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes lunch provided by the Missouri Stream Team Program, kids games and crafts, tubing on the Meramec River with complimentary shuttle and other activities including free camping offered to Stream Teams Friday and Saturday evenings on a first-come, first-serve at Group Site A at Meramec State Park. Registration is required to estimate attendance. To learn more about Missouri Stream Teams and how you can participate, visit mostreamteam.org.

Tomorrow afternoon from 2:00 until 3:30 at the Bonebrake Center, children and their parents can attend the next Mudbugs program, Critter Condos. The children will look at some different animal homes, an maybe try their hand at making some insect-friendly houses. Plus the long-awaited annual Mudbugs FAIRY HOUSE building will be held by special request! The suggested donation is $2.00 per child and additional donations are always welcome. All funds raised go to the Bonebrake Center. The Mudbug Programs are geared for children from ages 6-12, but all ages are welcome! For more information, contact Managing Agent Janet Price at moonshadowmomentsllc@gmail.com.