GUSTINE — Westside 4‑H members turned out strong at the 98th annual Gustine FFA Stock Show on March 1, joining FFA exhibitors at the GHS school farm for a day of practice, competition and community tradition.
The event, founded nearly a century ago, gives FFA students a chance to prepare for the May Day Fair in Los Banos. This year, 38 of Westside 4‑H’s 102 members participated.
First‑year goat exhibitor Mila Quezada said the experience was both exciting and nerve‑racking. “The stock show was very fun, but I was a little nervous,” she said. “Overall I was excited to show my goat Milly.”
Gustine FFA advisors, officers and members spent weeks preparing the school farm, gathering donations and organizing banners and belt buckles for exhibitors. Westside 4‑H Club Leader Melissa Ventura said the partnership between the two youth programs remains an important part of the community.
“We are very grateful to Gustine FFA for always including the Westside 4‑H members in their stock show,” Ventura said. “It is a great opportunity for the 4‑H youth to showcase the animals they work so hard to raise and be part of such a supportive agricultural tradition in our town.”
Each species includes market or breeding classes, and first‑place showmanship winners advance to Round Robin, where competitors show every species. This year’s Master Showman, Carson Fontes, said the honor reflects dedication more than ribbons. “The ribbon might say first place, but the real prize is all my hard work has paid off,” he said. “Never give up and always follow your goals.”
With their practice run complete, exhibitors now turn their attention to the Merced County Spring Fair.
4‑H Swine
Class 1:
1st Alvaro Reynoso; 2nd Landen Duarte; 3rd Sophia Siqueiros
Class 2:
1st Krystabelle Carlucci; 2nd Brinley Martin; 3rd Reagan Duarte
Champions:
4‑H Champion Market Hog — Alvaro Reynoso
4‑H Reserve Champion Market Hog — Krystabelle Carlucci
Reserve Supreme Champion Market Hog — Alvaro Reynoso
Showmanship:
Champion Junior — Landen Duarte
Champion Intermediate — Krystabelle Carlucci
Champion Swine Showman — Krystabelle Carlucci
2nd Brinley Martin; 3rd Raegan Duarte; 4th Alvaro Reynoso; 5th Sophia Siqueiros; 6th Landen Duarte
Round Robin:
2nd Krystabelle Carlucci
4‑H Beef Cattle
Reserve Beef Heifer — Raegan Duarte
Champion Beef Heifer — Deegan Ignacio
Supreme Champion Beef Heifer — Deegan Ignacio
Beef Showmanship:
1st Deegan Ignacio; 2nd Raegan Duarte
Round Robin:
5th Deegan Ignacio
4‑H Dairy Cattle
Open Heifers:
- Carley Fontes
- Matthew Mendes
- Carson Fontes
- Mason Lopes
Replacement Heifers:
- Michaella Nunes
- Paige Pires
4‑H Champion — Carley Fontes
Reserve Champion — Matthew Mendes
Reserve Supreme Champion — Carley Fontes
Showmanship:
Junior: 1. Michaella Nunes; 2. Carley Fontes
Overall Showmanship Winner — Carson Fontes
4‑H Market Lambs
Class 1:
1st Colton Bloom; 2nd Taetum Cordeiro; 3rd Jonny Rocha; 4th Aubree Gerhardt; 5th Lucy Smith
Class 2:
1st Emilie Hernandez; 2nd Jace Lancaster; 3rd Ty Lancaster
Class 3:
1st Madison Lopes; 2nd Billy Avila
Champion Market Lamb — Colton Bloom
Reserve Market Lamb — Madison Lopes
Sheep Showmanship:
Junior: 1st Taetum Cordeiro; 2nd Billy Avila; 3rd Madison Lopes; 4th Lucy Smith
Intermediate:
1st Ty Lancaster; 2nd Taetum Cordeiro; 3rd Emilie Hernandez; 4th Colton Bloom; 5th Jonny Rocha; 6th Jace Lancaster; 7th Aubree Gerhardt
4‑H Market Goats
Class 1:
1st Olivia Sanchez; 2nd Lane Gerhardt; 3rd Jacob Madrigal
Class 2:
1st Emma Lopes; 2nd Mila Quezada; 3rd Addyson Zalinski; 4th Mason Mendes
Class 3:
1st Audrey Etheridge; 2nd Emily Robinson; 3rd Bransen Bristow
Class 4:
1st Andon Borba; 2nd Macy Nunes; 3rd Audrey Alves
Champion Goat — Audrey Etheridge
Reserve Goat — Andon Borba
Supreme Champion Goat — Audrey Etheridge
Goat Showmanship:
Junior: 1st Audrey Alves; 2nd Mila Quezada; 3rd Andon Borba; 4th Addyson Zalinski; 5th Lane Gerhardt; 6th Emily Robinson
Intermediate:
1st Audrey Etheridge; 2nd Olivia Sanchez; 3rd Emma Lopes; 4th Mason Mendes; 5th Audrey Alves; 6th Macy Nunes; 7th Jacob Madrigal; 8th Bransen Bristow
FFA & 4‑H Wether Dam Does — Audrey Alves, 2nd place
Round Robin Final Results
1st Carson Fontes
2nd Krystabelle Carlucci
3rd Audrey Etheridge
4th Ty Lancaster
5th Deegan Ignacio
