- April 20, 2024
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Winter the calf gets ready to show with Savannah Freitag, a Lakewood Ranch High FFA member.
Amberly Willis, a member of the Mighty Fine Stock 4-H Club of Myakka City, is showing for the first time this year with "Freedom," who was born on Sept. 11.
Katelyn Proper, a Lakewood Ranch High FFA member, and her cow, Momma.
Nolan Middle School FFA member Maddy Hartwig preps her cow for the show ring.
Hannah Oler with the Myakka Allstock 4-H Club dusts off her calf, Daisy.
Momma the Dakin Dairy cow relaxes in her pen.
Lakewood Ranch High FFA president Carly Patterson feeds her pig, Bella.
Chelsea Bianco serves up a turkey leg at her family's food stand.
With the Manatee County Fair celebrating 100 years of fairs, the fair association set up historical displays throughout the event.
Manatee County Sheriff's Office Captain Rick Gerken talks with Joe Hill of Bradenton, his wife, Angel, and their children Sophie and Eli.
While some pigs take a nap when they're not in the show ring, this one was hoping for a treat.
Emily Hernandez with the Lakewood Ranch High FFA chapter helps groom the "top line" of Annabelle, her fellow member Hailey Barnes' cow.
Lakewood Ranch High FFA member Kylie Duquette and her cow, Ellie, rest before the show. Like most of the dairy cows used by the school's FFA program, Ellie comes from Dakin Dairy.
Nolan FFA member Saige Freitag waits as Judge Fallon Curren looks over her calf.
Winter the calf gets a snack in before going to the show ring with Savannah Freitag, a Lakewood Ranch High FFA member.
The Belle City Midway ferris wheel lit up the sky at the fair.
The Manatee County Fair got a moo-ve on Friday night, Jan. 15, when 4-H and FFA members showed their dairy cows.
Fallon Curren, the dairy show judge, said cows are judged on their balance, style and overall appearance, as well as the breed standards for different breeds of cows. Holstein cows, for example, are the most dominant dairy breed and they are judged more critically in the show ring.
Carly Patterson, president of the Lakewood Ranch High School FFA chapter, primarily shows pigs. She said FFA has been an educational experience.
"You get an insider look on the market work," she said. "And, it definitely teaches kids responsibility."
