Looks like the strong smell from the Akins barn out back has gotten stronger which can only mean one thing, the Future Farmers of America organization was hard at work training and grooming their animals to top-notch perfection for this years Travis County Youth

Show. This year the Akins FFA did remarkably well.

Valerie Jones has fairly enjoyed her last TCYS of her senior year placing 3rd with her first goat, and 4th with her second goat in the contest.

“Akins did extremely well, I’m very proud of what I did and how I placed. I think we did really well this year,” Jones said.

This year, the FFA orga- nization did remarkably well at the 2013 TCYS placing numerous times as top-fin- isher in contest for almost each member who attended the event. The organization is notorious for doing very well each year at the county show.

“Every time they called out the top-ten an Akins stu- dent always placed in top- five,” Jones said.

Jones and her group of three also hand-made a quilt and each got $1,000 each with all equaling up to $3,000 and Jones also received $875 for a goat at auction.

“This TCYS was good for my senior year, I am very happy and proud on how I did,” Jones said.

Sophomore Sean Watt earned Grand Champion Lamb, Reserve Champion Goat, and also got recog- nized for his quilt which also won Champion.

“This was my first county show. I wasn’t able to show last year because my pig was two pounds under the weight limit,” Watt said.

Each animal must meet certain requirements and qualifications to be entered into the county show.

Watt also placed 7th with his lamb, 7th with his goat and 10th with his pig.

“I was disappointed with my pigs placing but what happens, happens,” Watt said.

The main requirements for county show are to pass classes and make sure the animal is at the required weight.

“It was a great learning

experience and that’s all that the FFA is about in my opin- ion,” Watt said.

FFA member Lisbeth El- lis, who placed in first with her lamb, third with her pig and also received Grand Champion, had a great expe- rience at this year’s county show.

“This county show was really fun I got to hang out with lots of people from dif- ferent schools and my FFA group,” Ellis said. “It was a great experience overall and I was really happy I got to be apart of it all.”

Ellis also agreed that Akins had a great year at county show.

“Yes, I feel like we did re- ally great, most people made sale and everyone had a wonderful time,” said Ellis.

Senior Lindsay Escalante who is FFA vice president, placedfourthwithherlamb and third with her goat felt this years county show was rather sentimental.

“I felt good with my plac- ings, but it is bittersweet because it is my senior year, my experience this year was memorable, like all of them but this year meant more because it is my last,” Es- calante said.

Though it was Escalante’s last time at county show that didn’t stop her from pushing her animals to the top quality to go for the best.

“It’s an ongoing process if you have been working since the summer then you feel pretty ready for show. Akins did really good, alot of people placed high this year,” Escalante said.

FFA sold 20 goats in the sale and received on average $850.80, 10 lambs in the sale received on aver- age $1100-1200 dollars per, a pig sold for $1,375, and a pen of chickens also known as three fryers brought in $3,200.

“For the actual size of our organization we are the most successful FFA program in Travis County,” Jennifer Lockwood said.

In the Youth Fair, which has to do with arts and crafts

and baked goods there were 13 entries and six of those entries made sale, earning $4,000.

“FFA has over 50 student members strong and grow- ing every year,” Eric John said.

Akins FFA came home with many wins, sales, and high hopes to do just as well at competitions next year as well as the years up ahead in the near future.