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Gustine FFA racks up major honors across livestock divisions at Merced County Fair
gustine ffa merced county fair 6-24
Members of the Gustine FFA gather at the Merced County Fair, where the chapter earned top honors across multiple livestock divisions, including goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and cattle, capping a successful week that showcased students’ hard work, preparation and dedication to their agricultural projects. - photo by Photo Contributed

GUSTINE — Gustine FFA members brought home an impressive list of awards from the Merced County Fair, earning top honors in goats, poultry, rabbits, sheep and cattle after months of early mornings, late nights and steady work caring for their animals.

In the goat barn, several students delivered standout performances. Dominic Alves was named Dairy Goat Champion in Novice Showmanship, while Avery Ethridge earned Reserve FFA Champion Market Goat and Reserve Champion Heavyweight. Ryan Barcellos won Champion in Overall Goat Showmanship and placed third overall in Round Robin.

Freshman exhibitor Nathan Lopes added to the chapter’s results with a win in Freshman Goat Showmanship and a 12th‑place overall finish. He also placed second in Freshman Sheep Showmanship, extending his success across divisions.

Gustine FFA also saw strong results in poultry and small animals. Freddy Sanchez placed fourth overall in Single Fryer Rabbits. Allison Herrera finished 10th overall in Meat Pen of Chickens and won Novice Chicken Showmanship.

Turkey exhibitors continued the chapter’s momentum. Justin Lopes won Turkey Showmanship and Best of Show, while Luke Ventura earned Supreme Champion Market Turkey. Hector Flores won Novice Turkey Showmanship, placed second overall in Turkey Showmanship and went on to finish third overall in the small animal Round Robin.

Sheep exhibitors added more wins for the chapter. Carson Bell placed third overall in Sheep Showmanship and earned Reserve Champion Hampshire Market Lamb.

In the cattle division, Natalie Ventura earned multiple top honors, including Grand Champion MMCA Replacement Heifer, Champion MMCA Project Winner and Champion FFA Herdsman. Luke Ventura earned Reserve Champion FFA Project, and Olivia Rocha was named Champion Novice Showman.

Additional exhibitors represented Gustine FFA across multiple livestock divisions, contributing to what chapter leaders described as a strong overall showing throughout the week.

The results capped a successful fair season for Gustine FFA and highlighted the dedication of students who spent months preparing their projects. Their achievements, advisors said, reflect both individual commitment and the strength of the school’s agricultural education program, which continues to help students build responsibility, confidence and leadership.