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Hometown Hernando

By Times Staff
Published June 14, 2006

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

The 2006 annual Hernando County Fair and Livestock Show took place April 13-23 and included several contests, shows and races.

The Miss Hernando County Fair beauty pageant was April 15. Queens and kings were chosen in age divisions. Winners in the under-1-year-old division were Kyla Branon, baby queen; Karyssa Son, baby photogenic; and Jamien Ducharme, baby king and baby photogenic.

In the 1-year-old division, winners were Kaitlyn Jeffers, tiny queen; Kaylee Croft, photogenic queen; and Glenn Pruess, tiny king.

In the 2- and 3-year-old division, winners were Kendalynn Tine, queen and photogenic queen; Drew Kelly, king; and Evan Silverthorn, photogenic king.

In the 5- and 6-year-old division, Mandy Birren and Alexandria Jester tied for pee-wee queen; Alexandria Jester was named photogenic queen.

In the 7- to 10-year-old division, winners were Mikayla Waddy, little miss queen, and Kirsten Gray, photogenic.

In the 11- to 13-year-old division, Brittany Rayborn won pre-teen queen and photogenic queen. In the 14- to 17-year-old division, Elizabeht Church won teen queen, and Samantha Browning won photogenic teen. In the 18- to 27-year-old division, Heather Hicks won Miss Hernando County Fair Sunburst Queen and Miss Photogenic.

On April 20, the Nature Coast's American Idol finals were held. Judges, including Vince Vanni, Stuart Dausch and Jean Hayes, scored contestants on singing ability, professionalism, appearance and audience reaction.

In the children's category: Matthew Romeo won first place; Ashley Stuller, second place; and Gigi Michalicka, third place.

In the female category: Valenlis Vazquez won first place; Taryn Martin, second place; and Julie Neel, third place.

In the male category: Adrian DeLodder won first place; Frederick Gross, second place; and Fred Simmons, third place.

In the livestock barn, the grand champion steer was exhibited by Ben Buttelman of Be A Champ 4-H Club with reserve champion honors going to Brittany Huston of Klassic Kritters 4-H. Grand champion bottle-fed exhibitor was Klassic Kritters 4-H Club, and reserve honors went to Dalton Jenkins of Jolly Ranchers 4-H.

First-in-class awards were earned by the four previously named exhibitors as well as by Steve Brass, Michael Walker and Justin Schaffer.

Showmanship is based on the exhibitor's poise, knowledge and skills. Senior grand champion showman was Sara Moores of Future Cattleman 4-H while senior Reserve honors went to Justin Collins of Hernando-Central FFA. Intermediate grand champion showman was Blake Hunter of Future Cattleman 4-H with Jessica Collins of Jolly Ranchers 4-H taking reserve. Junior grand champion showman was Kelly Thomas of Future Cattleman while reserve honors went to Steve Brass of Jolly Ranchers 4-H.

The grand champion swine was exhibited by Delaney Ahrens of Jolly Ranchers 4-H while Candi Hicks of Brooksville Sr. FFA exhibited the reserve grand champion. First-in-class honors were earned by Delaney Ahrens, Casey Davidson, Samantha Pankow, Jolly Ranchers 4-H Club, Holly Nichols, Victoria Cannon, Hernando-Central FFA and Carysa Merino.

Showmanship competition tested the endurance as well as poise, knowledge and skills of these young exhibitors. Senior grand champion showman Rachel Batten and reserve senior showman Candi Hicks were both from Brooksville Sr. FFA. Intermediate grand champion showman Tiffany Ann Scott was also of Brooksville Sr. FFA with intermediate reserve showman Ben Buttelman representing Be A Champ 4-H. Junior grand champion showman was Elysa Merino of All Creatures Great and Small 4-H Club, and junior reserve showman was Delaney Ahrens.

Grand champion purebred rabbit was exhibited by Madison Brooks of Klassic Kritters 4-H, and Matt Batta of Jolly Ranchers 4-H exhibited the reserve grand champion purebred. Crossbred grand champion was exhibited by Brett Naugler of Jolly Ranchers 4-H, and reserve was exhibited by Dana Klimas of Klassic Kritters 4-H.

First-in-class honors were earned by those four as well as Kevin Hemstreet, Caitlin Flood and Duncan McRae.

The 2006 grand champion senior showman was Aleisha Miller, an Independent 4-H member, with Holly Fincher of Jolly Ranchers 4-H named reserve senior showman. Junior grand champion showman was Delaney Ahrens, and Madison Brooks of Klassic Kritters earned reserve. Best of education poster winner was Duncan McRae.

The grand champion purebred poultry was exhibited by John Mitten of All Creatures Great and Small 4-H with fellow club member Melissa Hemstreet exhibiting the reserve. Grand champion crossbred honors went to a project by Madison Brooks, with Garrett Bayne of Future Cattleman 4-H earning reserve.

First-in-class honors went to these four individuals as well as Brittany Huston and Kevin Hemstreet. 2006 Senior Grand Champion Showman in Poultry was Brittany Huston with Independent 4-H member Benjamin Zapadenko taking Reserve Champion. Junior Grand Champion Showman was Danielle Pegram of All Creatures Great and Small 4-H, and Madison Brooks earned Junior Reserve Champion. Best of Education Poster honors went to Melissa Hemstreet and Benjamin Zapadenko.

In the horticulture tent, youth best of show honors went to William Wing of Be A Champ 4-H.

In the steer herdsman category, Justin Brand won senior grand champion; Sara Moores, reserve; Shannon Brass, intermediate; Casey Klimas and Jessica Bayne, reserve intermediate; Steven Brass, junior grand champion; and Dana Klimas, reserve.

In the swine herdsman category, Johnny Roush won senior grand champion; Candi Hicks, reserve; Samantha Pankow, intermediate; Sabrina Kile, reserve intermediate; Katelyn and Tiffany Mobley, junior grand; and Tana McDaniel, reserve.

In the steer record book category, Jordan Walker, grand champion in the junior division; Steven Brass, reserve. In the intermediate division, Michael Walker was grand champion; Danielle Timm and Brittany Huston, reserve. In the senior division, Aleisha Miller was grand champion; Sara Moores, reserve.

In the swine record book category, junior division, Tiffany Mobley was grand champion; Katelyn Mobley, reserve. In the intermediate division, Danielle Timm was grand champion; Ben Buttelman, reserve. In the senior division, Holly Nichols was grand champion; Rachel Batten, reserve.

In the bottle-fed record book, Kayla Lundh was grand champion; Dalton Jenkins, reserve. In the club record book category, Brooksville Sr. FFA was grand champion; William Wing of Be A Champ 4-H, reserve. T.J. Smith won first place in the steer carcass contest; Sabrina Kile took first place in the swine carcass contest. The average daily gain for steer honors went to Jessica Collins.

In the Henry Jackson Family Living Building, several divisions were displayed. In the arts and crafts, sewing and needlework divisions, earning best of division and best of show was John Mitten of All Creatures Great and Small 4-H for his meticulous educational display of insects.

Best of division and reserve best of show honors went to Aleisha Miller, an Independent 4-H member, for her constructed fashion, "Coronation Gown of Princess Diaries 2.'' Best of division and honorable mention went to Kelsey Varn of All Creatures Great and Small 4-H for her colored pencil drawing titled "Desert Friends."

Central and Springstead high schools submitted several student art pieces that were displayed as part of the family living exhibits. Best of show honors went to Randa Rivera (Central) and Abbey Surrena (Springstead). In the baked goods category, best of show went to Lea Fuller, reserve best of show went to Aleisha Miller, and honorable mention went to Ashley Mobley.

Additional best of class honors went to Madison Brooks, Nathan McAndrew and Courtney Rubio. Hernando County 4-H has compiled a book of all the blue ribbon recipes. It is available for a $1 donation. For information, call 754-4433.

The 4-H clubs and FFA chapters were challenged to create a display booth encompassing the theme of the fair, the mission of their program and an educational component in a 5-by-8-foot area. The 2006 best of show 4-H booth was done by Be A Champ 4-H with reserve honors going to Jolly Ranchers 4-H. Honorable mention went to the Holiday Girls 4-H Club. The best of show FFA booth was constructed by Brooksville Sr. FFA of Hernando High School.

RECREATION AND SPORTS

The Spring Hill Wrestling Club competed in the Citrus Three Style Wrestling Tournament on April 29 at Citrus High School.

Wrestlers competed in freestyle, folk style and Greco Roman.

In the junior category, Cesar Acosta received second place in folk style (171 weight class), and first place in freestyle (189 weight class). Bobby McCarthy took fifth place in folk (145 weight class) and second place in freestyle (145 weight class).

In the cadet category, Cesar Acosta won first place in Greco (171) and first place in folk (171). Steven Bliss won first place in Greco (119), first place folk (119) and first place in free (119). Thomas Ellerbee, fifth place in free (140).

Sean Hughes took third place in folk (140). Thaddeus Klenovich took second place Greco (171), third place folk (160) and first place in free (160). Charles Oquendo took second place in folk (heavyweight) and second place in free (heavyweight). Dustin Soto took first place in free (112). Mark Watson took first place in folk (heavyweight) and first place in free (heavyweight).

Ritchie Bliss competed in the schoolboy category, earning first place in Greco (90), first place in folk (90) and first place in free (85).

In the novice category, Jordan Rivera won first place in folk (85) and first place in free (80). Sean Redman won second place in Greco (100), second place in folk (100) and second place in free (100). Cody Ross won first place in Greco (100), first place in folk (100) and first place in free (100). Conor Ross won first place in Greco (85), first place in folk (85) and first place in free (85).

In the midget category, Michael McDonald took home first place in Greco (60), first place in folk (60) and first place in free (60).

In the bantam category, Cory Fulkerson won first place in Greco (65), first place in folk (65) and first place in free (65).

***

Brittany Anderson, 11, a student in the modified optionals level at Stars & Strips Gymnastics, competed April 28 in the Amateur Athletic Union state gymnastics competition at Disney's Wide World of Sports in Orlando.

Brittany received a total score of 36.05, which earned her first place in the all-around in the elite division for her age group, and a trophy for the All American Award.

Brittany took home four medals: first place on bars, second place on balance beam, second place on vault and sixth place on the floor.

In 2004, Brittany competed and won first place at both states and nationals. She also competed at the Princess Classic AAU Gymnastics Invitational meet on Jan. 15, where she took home the princess crown for receiving the highest score for an event, a 9.350 on her floor routine.

Brittany hopes someday to compete in the Olympics. Currently she is training to qualify for the AAU Junior Olympics on the Florida team.

Brittany is the daughter of Steve and Joan Anderson of Spring Hill.

Hometown Hernando welcomes reports on recreational and sports activities, both youth and adult, that do not normally run on the Sports pages. Send your news and results to: Jean Hayes, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville, FL 34613-6174.

NOTES OF THANKS

The Hispanic Civic & Cultural Foundation's debut activity, a bowling event at Mariner Lanes on April 30, was successful in bringing together students from different schools to enjoy an afternoon of good fun. Our group would like to thank Rafael Hernandez for sponsoring the event.

We also thank Sheriff Richard Nugent for the donation and for the presence of the DARE car and the deputies who helped. Thank you to the teachers who promoted the event and to Carrabba's Italian Grill, Chili's Grill & Bar and Cody's Original Roadhouse Grill & Bar for the door prizes.

The foundation plans to hold other events throughout the year, including a silent auction/dinner, garage sale, fashion show, golf tournament and festival/carnival. For information, call 683-6235, 796-0570 or (727) 856-0135

Gladys del S. Pedersen

President

[Last modified June 14, 2006, 11:44:37]