Franklin County 4-H Chapter member Bailey Redar took the Grand Champion Dairy Heifer Award at the 2026 Mount Vernon / Saltillo Young Farmers Project Show. Her heifer brought $2,800 at auction to the purchaser, First National Bank of East Texas.
Allie Calderon took Reserve Champion Dairy Heifer honors. She is a member of the Saltillo Junior FFA Chapter. Her heifer was purchased by Wood County Electric Cooperative for $2,400. She also earned the Dairy Heifer Junior Showmanship Award.
Dairy Heifer Best Set of Records was kept by Marianna Cardenas, a member of the Mount Vernon High School FFA Chapter.
Gable Scott, a member of the Mount Vernon High School FFA, earned the Dairy Heifer Senior Showmanship Award.
The Dairy Heifer Division of the 2026 Mount Vernon / Saltillo Young Farmers Project Show held the biggest challenge for competitors in the sheer number of entries, with 27 qualifying for the ring.
Exhibitors of Dairy Heifers not previously named are listed by organization:
Saltillo Junior FFA: Artis Cline, Kamryn Johnson, Kynnedi Johnson, Keaton Johnson, Ayden Payne, Bradley Guthrie;
Franklin County 4H: Hendrik Talsma, Aurora Talsma, Bytin Crow, Cutler Deming, Laura Castillo, Caisley Deming;
Mount Vernon FFA: Anabella Talsma, Mariana Cardenas, Emmersyn Reed, Liv Scott, Lorena Castillo, Cheyenne Harris;
Saltillo FFA: Asra Cline, Maci Maxton; and Hopkins County 4H: Kaidence Johnson.
Photos by Baujke Talsma
