Bigger & Better

The 20th Annual FFA Alumni Progress Show was the biggest and the best, with competitors from Nebraska, Wyoming, South Dakota, and Colorado converging on Kimball. The Kimball Fairgrounds was packed with trailers, tents, vehicles, animals, and show families.

The progress show circuit begins in May and runs through July when county and state fairs start.

The Father's Day progress show began 20 years ago with the Wilkes, Lukassens and FFA instructor Alan Held. The purpose was to give local kids a positive learning experience in preparation for the county fair.

Several local families took advantage of the tough competition and excellent comments from the Northeast Junior College judge, Lindsay McPeake. Locals participating in the two-day event were such families as the Cooks, Carruthers, Johnsons, Culeks, Toths, Engstroms and Snyders.

Local Catch-A-Calf participants Cameron McGinnis and Keaton Lukassen brought their project to town. One of the requirements of the Catch-A-Calf program is to participate in a progress show.

Grand Champion market winners took home a $450 check, while reserve champions received $350.

The market hogs numbers doubled from last year, with 75 hogs entering the show ring and 43 kids showing hogs. The sheep and goat population also doubled from last year, with 89 sheep and 51 goats registered. There were 27 market cattle and 11 breeding heifers.

The 4-H'ers were exposed to a top-notch area judge with education and experience. Lindsey McPeake hails from Bend, Oregon, where she showed hogs and judged livestock. McPeake attended Linn-Benton Community College, where she was an All-American judge, then attended Colorado State University. McPeake received her master's degree at Oregon State and is just starting her fourth year as a livestock judge instructor at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Co.

With the community and local sponsorship and support, the FFA Alumni said that the Father's Day progress show is possible and they are appreciative of the area's support.