Star farmer Award Regional Finalists :
Emily Brewen • king city
My SAE focuses on beef production , but also includes sheep production , especially in the market and breeding beef areas . My SAE this year includes four market beef and seven breeding beef . It includes learning responsibility of an animal , how to feed , groom , and tame animals for show , and also how to get involved in the industry . I started in the business when I was nine , and began to show market steers at my county and state fairs . I soon got into breeding beef and showing them as well . I then began to breed those heifers and market the calves . My operation has continued the same way to this day . I use the most modern and effective practices available , such as different feed supplements and grooming supplies , to produce the highest quality beef product for consumers . I am always looking for new things to try to produce as high of a quality product as I possibly can . I also participate in the Farm Day my county fair holds annually and I speak to the public about my animals and what I do every day in this SAE . My everyday tasks include taking care of my animals and keeping them healthy , presentable , and comfortably stress-free .
Emily Nunez • Healdsburg
My SAE includes market and breeding beef cattle , market and breeding rabbits , market swine , and market goats . From my first year of 4-H raising three market hogs , I knew that livestock was not just a hobby but a way of life . My freshman year I began FFA with a market hog , market steer , and raising market and breeding rabbits . I decided I wanted to expand my SAE projects to include breeding cattle . In the last three years I have purchased two beef heifers to produce my own cattle . When I purchased my first heifer , I began showing her at jackpots and fairs and found myself in the champion drive at many shows . I was excited when I selected the bull to artificially inseminate her to . I have since increased my herd , flushed my first heifer for embryos , and bred all my heifers via AI . I continue to breed and sell market rabbits for youth . Being able to produce my own herd has motivated me to continue growing each year and major in Animal Science Nutrition in college . Raising such a diverse group of species has allowed me to learn specific skills and common skills needed by all species , such as responsibility and time management .
Andrea Thomas • Colusa
I raise hogs , cattle , hay , and put on ag educational events for my SAE . I have had as many as three sows in production for show hogs to sell to 4-H and FFA members and feeder hogs for the local butcher market , as well as raising and exhibiting market hogs . For my swine project I have done the boar collecting , AI , farrowing , processing of piglets , and marketing of my product . I also have commercial cows to produce calves for the feeder calf market , and I ’ ve added to the herd by keeping two heifer calves . As part of my beef project I am responsible for pasture and fence maintenance , irrigation of the summer pasture , working the herd , and processing calves each winter . I am in a partnership with my dad on 154 acres of alfalfa and oat hay in Williams . I provide most of the labor and share in management and marketing . Before planting the alfalfa I grew a winter wheat crop and oat hay and grass hay on five acres at the school farm the past four years . I have been responsible for ground preparation , disking and rolling fields , irrigation checks and running the swather and rake . Finally , I put on Livestock Skill-A-Thon contests and showmanship clinics for 4-H and FFA members .
Adriana Coonce • Phelan - Serrano
Over the past four years I have raised breeding and market sheep and breeding and market swine . Wanting to expand , I decided to raise market beef and start growing grains to feed to my livestock and sell to others . I have had the great opportunity to expand my knowledge further in the area of animal nutrition because of these projects that I take pride in . Raising my swine and sheep has offered me a lot of knowledge and experiences that I had to further my education and skills . I currently have 15 sows , a boar , five ewes , a ram , two steers , half acre of corn , and an acre and a half of barley that I maintain . My freshman year my dad would have to help me do everything , now I am running the barns and telling him what needs to be done . I also have my younger brother that assists me with the care of my stock , and I get the opportunity to teach him . Some of the responsibilities that I have to complete on a daily basis include : feeding , veterinarian practices , farrowing , castration , nutrition , genetics selection , assist in farrowing and lambing , seed , fertilizer application and pest control with my crops , and general care and maintenance of all projects .
Kent Norman • Ripon
The past three years I have grown wheat on acreage leased from Robert Norman Farms , increasing my acreage from 10 to 46 acres . My interest wheat production came around 10-years old when I helped my father on the farm . Upon entering high school I leased my own land to grow wheat through Robert Norman Farms who also offered the equipment necessary for production . Our rental agreement allows me to pay for the equipment and land use after harvest and receipt of income from the crop . The project began with setting up the field for planting and irrigation by a furrowing implement and utilizing a GPS system to create the straightest furrows , maximizing the total number of beds and furrows , which increased ideal planting conditions . I then watched the weather forecast to gauge the soil ’ s moisture level to provide the optimal germination rate . I calibrated the grain drill , to plant 150 lbs . per acre ; less would lower the yield and too much would create plant crowding . I irrigated the wheat twice due to the drought conditions . Once the wheat met the required moisture level , I set the cylinder on the combine to the correct setting to not damage the kernels while harvesting .
Mark Cavallero • Madera
My SAE projects are growing and harvesting grapes that I sell to Constellation Wines for champagne and almonds to sell to Holland Nut Company . As early at sixth grade I would help my dad in the orchard and vineyard after school and on weekends with odd jobs . As I got older my jobs increased and I learned the things to have a successful orchard and vineyard in the future . I inherited ten acres of grapes from my grandfather when he passed ; he wanted me to be involved in the family business . While I have always worked in the vineyard and orchard with my family , I started to manage my own acreage six years ago when I rented ten acres of almonds and began to grow my own business in addition to grapes . My first year was rough , allowing me to see the management side versus the worker side of my operation . Now that I ’ m eighteen I make all decisions for my project . I have continued my vineyards ’ productivity and grown my almond acreage by renting more acres of mature almonds , and developing long term leases to plant young trees . I am excited to continue growing my business and I plan to purchase the land I now rent .
{ Continued on page 15 }
California FFANEWS • Page 14 • Summer 2016