This year’s edition of the San Joaquin AgFest was a virtual event, staged June 12 through 14.
All things considered we had a great AgFest. There were 990 entries from about 600 4-H and FFA members. The auction had 564 market animals which was down from last year’s record high of 749. Total sales were just short of $1 million. Last year’s sales were close to $1.5 million.
Members of the Escalon 4-H, Farmington 4-H and Escalon FFA had a great showing, including six with top honors: Kelsey Webster, Emily Bavaro, Trent Powell, Molly Terpstra, Danny Bava and Aiden Hohenwarter.
We had almost all the contests that we have at the fairgrounds. We had two showmanship contests. One was an essay contest with 76 members competing for cash prizes. The second was a virtual showmanship contest with 100 entries and the outstanding showman in each species will receive a belt buckle.
We had market and breeding competition for dairy, dairy goats, rabbits, beef, swine, goats, sheep and cavies. We had five 4-H members show dogs for obedience which also earn buckles.
We also had members exhibit their floriculture, horticulture, entomology, ag panels and ag mechanic projects. Outstanding exhibits in each division earned ribbons and cash awards.
We even hosted the annual costume contest. There were 18 animals and exhibitors who dressed up and posted their photos on the AgFest social media platforms. The winners earned ribbons and gift cards.
We are planning an awards ceremony in late July or early August to hand out the ribbons, buckles, prizes and toast the volunteers for all their hard work to make this virtual event happen. We will have to meet the county health protocols but we are confident that we can have an event that will meet the requirements and recognize all the exhibitors’ hard work.
Josh Hiatt, the AgFest President said, “The 2020 AgFest Online Show and Sale will be one for the books! As we look to the future, we surely hope that 2021 will find us all together, playing card games in the aisles sitting in our AgFest chairs, sharing hoses and soap in the wash racks, and wiping our eyes clear as we hear the gavel issue the final bid after a long, hot, week. Thank you for your support and we look forward to 2021!”
All the contests and winners are listed on the https://sanjoaquinagfest.org/ website.
