<b>By Libby Cluett</b><br><a href="mailto:lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com">lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com</a>

GRAFORD – Graford Agriculture Science instructor Robert Ray has been through many decades of bone-numbing chill during the annual Graford FFA Fair and Livestock Show, but this year’s 48th annual show was highlighted by “almost perfect” weather.

“It’s tradition. Usually it’s a cold day,” he said of Saturday’s show. But unlike the 40-something others, he said this year’s stood out because, “It was almost a perfect day weather-wise.”

The fair and livestock show had a total of 242 entries. In addition to showing animals, children along with adults competed with their artistic, cooking and craftsmanship skills.

Fair categories included baked and canned goods, candies, arts and crafts and farm and ranch tack. Overall best-of-show winners in these categories were:

• Cambren Morrison (photography) won junior best of show.

• Colby Ruddy (senior farm and tack) won senior best in show.

• Mike Pendergraft (adult farm and ranch tack) won adult best in show.

Saturday’s show saw 83 livestock entries. Judging livestock were Leslie Harris, who teaches agricultural science Breckenridge ISD, and Don Hampton, a rabbit breeder from Poolville. Below are the overall results.

One feature of the show was the raffle for a $2,500 cashiers check and on a 650-pound cross-bred heifer that benefitted the Graford 4-H and FFA Livestock Fund. Coley Larson won the heifer raffle and Butch Bridges won the cashier’s check. In addition, over 20 fair goers won door prizes ranging from a glider swing set to sets of chairs.

Ray said that many students who competed their animals in the Graford show would go on to the Palo Pinto County show the second weekend in January. The county show and fair takes place January 6-9. But he said some are destined to take their animals on to major shows.

Livestock show winners

Rabbits

• Grand Champion: Christian Saxon won both Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion Rabbit.

• Californians: Skyla Allen won breed champion and T.J. Ranft was reserve breed champion.

• New Zealand White: Christian Saxon won breed champion and reserve breed champion.

• Pen of Three: Jordan Carver won champion and Emily Lee was reserve champion.

• Jr. Showmanship: Trey Ranft.

• Sr. Showmanship: Christian Saxon.

Horses

• Grand Champion Mare: Gabi Herring won grand champion and Angela Bryant took reserve grand champion.

• Grand Champion Gelding: Annie Herring won grand champion and Colby Ruddy took reserve grand champion.

• Jr. Showmanship: Annie Herring.

• Sr. Showmanship: Gabi Herring.

• Jr. Western Pleasure Annie Herring won the championship buckle and Coley Larson was reserve champion.

• Sr. Western Pleasure Gabi Herring won the championship buckle and Colby Ruddy was reserve champion.

Meat goats

• Grand Champion Meat Goat: Gabi Herring won grand champion and Lexis Clark took reserve.

• Lightweight Goat: Lexis Clark won breed champion and Dillon Hart took reserve.

• Medium Weight Goat: Gabi Herring won breed champion and Remington Hart took reserve.

• Heavyweight Goat: Gabi Herring won breed champion and Dillon Hart won reserve.

• Jr. Showmanship: Dillon Hart.

• Sr. Showmanship: Gabi Herring.

Sheep

• Grand Champion Lamb: Jake Dudley won grand champion and Angela Bryant took reserve.

• Fine Wool: Ivan Hernandez won breed champion.

• Hampshire: Angela Bryant won breed champion and Riley Ray won reserve.

• Medium Wool Cross: Jake Dudley won breed champion and Rachel Ray won reserve.

• Suffolk: Ivan Hernandez won breed champion and Jeffery Turner won reserve.

• Southdown: Makayla Houser won breed champion and Ulysses Hernandez won reserve.

• Jr. Showmanship: Rachel Ray.

• Sr. Showmanship: Angela Bryant.

Swine

• Grand Champion Hog: Elisha Lee won and Tanner Hargrove took reserve champion honors.

• Chester: Brady Biery won breed champion and Chantay Ferrell took reserve.

• Duroc: Taylor Penn won breed champion and Quentin Reed won reserve.

• Hampshire: Elisha Lee won breed champion and Rebecca Richardson took reserve.

• Yorkshire: Tanner Hargrove won breed champion and Dustin Hargrove took reserve.

• Cross-bred: Chantay Ferrell took both breed champion and reserve.

• Jr. Showmanship: Rebecca Richardson.

• Sr. Showmanship: Chantay Ferrell.

Heifers/Steers

• Grand Champion heifer: Coley Larson won champion grand champion and Angela Bryant took reserve champion.

• Grand Champion steer: Annie Herring won champion and Gabi Herring took reserve champion.

• Jr. Showmanship steer: Annie Herring.

• Sr. Showmanship steer: Gabi Herring.