The 2025-2026 4-H Year is only two weeks old, and Livestock 4-H Club members are active with the 4-H project animals and events.
At the Geneva County Cattle Battle, Beau Fisher, Saylor Woods, Sophia Dickerson, Maddox Grantham, Cara Hayford, and Cason Hayford exhibited their market steers or heifers and competed in showmanship. They earned the following awards:
Beau Fisher – Homegrown Grand Champion
Cara Hayford – Showmanship Grand Champion
Cason Hayford – Showmanship Reserve Champion
Saylor Woods – Breed Grand Champion
Sophia Dickerson – Breed Reserve Champion
Maddox Grantham – Breed Reserve Champion
4-Her’s Landon O’Steen, Makyla O’Steen, Ashlynn Osteen, Sarah Jane Riley, Abigail Riley, Leah Riley, and Hannah Riley exhibited their market animal projects at the Donalsonville Livestock Show.
4-H members who participate in livestock projects learn skills that extend beyond raising an animal. They learn animal care and management specific to their animal like nutrition, feeding, grooming, and housing. They learn how to monitor their health, identify potential illnesses, and give basic treatments. Many 4-Hers are interested in genetics and breeding and are active in selecting breed stock and learning more about heredity characteristics. Raising livestock also requires a significant time commitment, daily care routines that teach responsibility, consistency, and accountability.
Throughout this 4-H year, 4-Hers will exhibit their animals at local fairs and shows before their culminating event at the annual Washington County Youth Fair held in February 2026.
For more information on Washington County 4-H, contact Julie Pigott Dillard at 850-638-6180 or juliepd@ufl.edu.