The day started early for members of the sponsoring Mount Vernon / Saltillo Young Farmers Chapter, sponsors of the annual project show, and for students and their families, who began even earlier with last-minute preparations and the grooming or polishing of their projects. Their efforts paid off, with students earning a whopping $229,220 from project sales and “add-ons” from local and area supporters.
A total of 85 animal and agricultural mechanic projects were exhibited, and of those, 60 were sold at auction in the 2026 show. The total earned was about $27,000 above last year’s dollar figure, according to MV/S Young Farmer Project Show organizers.
Grand champion, reserve champion, and senior showmanship were awarded in five categories, and four categories awarded junior showmanship. The best set of records was awarded in the four animal categories. Check back for individual category winners featured in four separate stories posted, plus assorted Suck Bucket photos.
Tobin Potter, a member of the Saltillo High School FFA Chapter, earned the Grand Champion Award in the Agricultural Mechanics Division of the 2026 Mount Vernon / Saltillo Young Farmers Project Show. Reserve Champion and Senior Showmanship honors were both earned by Jesus Gutierrez, a member of the Mount Vernon High School FFA Chapter.
Agriculture Mechanics entries are not sold at the auction, as they are sponsored by companies or individuals who receive the pieces after they are completed as the students' “shop project” for class. The cost of these projects varies widely, from several hundred to thousands of dollars, depending on the project’s size and material costs.
The serious side of the Mount Vernon / Saltillo Young Farmers Project Show brought experience, pride, and cash rewards to the participants. The “Suck Bucket” event brought comic relief, with 30 youth aged five and under getting hands-on experience feeding baby calves from a bottle.
Photos by Baujke Talsma
