2002 NCJLS participant profiles

Name: Tiffany Resendez Age: 10 Organization/Club: Banquete 4-H Parents: Roel and Irene Resendez What is your project? Market Goat Why did you choose this project? Because I showed a goat last year and I really liked and enjoyed it. So I decided to do it again my second year. Who influenced your project and why? My dad influenced me into showing my project because when he was a little boy, he used to show animals. And my mom, grandmother and grandfather have helped me a lot, too.	Name: Jamie Ann Resendez Age: 16 Organization/Club: Banquete 4-H Parents: Roel and Irene Resendez What is your project? Market Goat Why did you choose this project? This will be my ninth year showing a project but third year showing a goat. My first year I showed a goat, it got first place. Maybe if this goat is just as good, it will do just as well. Who influenced your project and why? My father influenced me into this project because he also showed every year he got a chance. He learned a lot from these experiences, and hopefully I can learn just as much.
Name: Lindsay Covey Age: 17 Organization/Club: West Oso 4-H Parents: Ray and Connie Covey What is your project? Goat, Horse Why did you choose this project? I have shown a goat for almost 10 years now, and I have shown a horse for even longer. Each year, I have more and more fun. I just enjoy it too much to change projects. Who influenced your project and why? My parents because they have always stood behind me 100 percent and they have always been proud of me no matter what the outcome is. Everyday I have to thank them for helping me get where I am today.	Name: Abby Loessin Age: 10 Organization/Club: Bluntzer 4-H Parents: W.A. and Vickie Loessin What is your project? Market Steer, Breeding Heifers, Homemaking (cookies and clothing), Shop Why did you choose this project? I chose a Market Steer because my older sister showed cattle and I feel like I have grown up around cattle. I can remember the excitement as I finally got to show my own steer when I was in the third grade. This is already my third year to show a Market Steer. I also show my Santa Gertrudis Heifers. I enjoy raising and showing them because I get to keep them. I have also participated in the shop project by building a coffee table. This will be my first year to include the Homemaking Division. I am excited about each project I have entered this year. Who influenced your project and why? The person I feel has influenced me the most with my Market Steer is My older sister, Amanda, completed her last year in the Livestock Show the year before I was to participate in my first year, so we never got to show together. I feel I am very lucky to be able to benefit from all her years of participation in the Livestock Show. I am able to show the babies born to her show heifers. She has taught me what to look for when I select my show cattle. I have many friends because most people involved in the cattle division have watched me grow up as I watched her show. Amanda is always there to help me improve.
Name: Todd Otahal Age: 13 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Ben and Gaye Otahal What is your project? Market Swine Why did you choose this project? I chose a Market Swine because I enjoy showing pigs. I also enjoy learning more about animals. This is my sixth year to raise a Market Swine and I am still learning and improving my showmanship style. I hope to raise a Market Swine project again next year. Who influenced your project and why? The person I feel has influenced me the most with my Market Swine project is my dad. He My dad because he takes me out to the pens to feed the pigs and teaches me how to feed each pig so it will look its best. My dad also takes me to pig shows on the weekends so I can learn how to show my pig better. Raising a Market Swine project requires the help and support of the whole family, and I like it that we all work together.	Name: Tyler Otahal Age: 11 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Ben and Gaye Otahal What is your project? Market Swine, Shop Why did you choose this project? I chose a Market Swine because my family has shown pigs for years, and I feel we have learned a lot over the years to compete better. I also chose a shop project because I enjoy working at the shop with my dad and I thought it would be fun to compete with something I made. Who influenced your project and why? My dad has influenced my projects the most because he is always interested in helping me learn more about my pigs and how to show my pigs better. He enjoys taking time out of his weekends to take me to pig shows where I can learn how to become a better showman. My dad also helps me to build my shop project and teach me how to use many of the tools in his shop. Without the support of my family, I would not be able to compete in the NCJLS
Name: Katie Curry Age: 10 Organization/Club: West Oso 4-H Parents: Frank and Judy Curry What is your project? Market Rabbits Why did you choose this project? I chose the rabbit project because I’ve worked with rabbits for the past two livestock shows, and in 2001 I won Grand Champion. Who influenced your project and why? My mom influenced my decision to participate in the NCJLS as I like animals and the money raised goes toward my college fund.	Name: Jordan Wendland Age: 10 Organization/Club: Northwest 4-H and Tuloso-Midway Junior FFA Parents: Stacy and Jennifer Wendland What is your project? Medium Wool Lamb, Shop, Homemaking Why did you choose this project? I chose to show a lamb because that is what my mom showed when she was young and my dad showed hogs and heifers. Who influenced your project and why? Both my parents were big influences, they both showed animals for the Nueces County Livestock and some major shows. They always talked about the fun and learning experiences they enjoyed. I guess it’s a real big tradition on my dad’s side of the family, I’m the fourth generation to participate in this show.
Name: Tyler Garza Age: 10 Organization/Club: Bluntzer 4-H and Banquete Junior FFA Parents: Roel and Veronica Garza What is your project? Lamb, Homemaking (baked food, cookies, candy), Shop Why did you choose this project? This is my third year to show sheep. I chose this project because my brother has shown sheep for nine years and I enjoy this project. I chose my shop projects because I love working in the shop and I wanted to show my welding skills. I bake because I love food! Who influenced your project and why? My older brother Jason has taught me a lot about sheep. He has done well with his lamb projects and I wanted to show them and I hope to do well, too. My dad has also been a big influence because he has taught me about my lamb projects and sheep projects. My dad was my county agent and is now my Junior FFA leader.	Name: Kallie Womack Age: 10 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Chuck and Angela Womack What is your project? Goat Why did you choose this project? Goats are cute and have funny personalities. One day I would like to be a veterinarian, so this is a good start with farm animals. Who influenced your project and why? My brother Jay raised a goat, and I had fun helping him.
Name: Cassie Hayek Age: 13 Organization/Club: West Oso 4-H Parents: Imogene and Mark Hayek What is your project? Goats, Shop, Homemaking Why did you choose this project? I chose goats because they seemed very easy to show; Shop because I like working with wood and iron; Homemaking because I like baking and getting new recipes. Who influenced your project and why? My grandma Lelacq Hayek and my mom, Imogene Hayek, both helped me with my food. My grandpa and dad Edward and Mark Hayek who helped build shop projects for the show. Roel Garza and Ray Covey both influenced me into raising goats. Also Ray Covey told me to smile so the judge thought I was having fun.	Name: Brody Hayek Age: 12 Organization/Club: West Oso 4-H Parents: Imogene and Mark Hayek What is your project? Goats, Shop, Homemaking (cookies) Why did you choose this project? The reason is because the goats are a lot of fun. Who influenced your project and why? My grandpa Edward Hayek because he teaches me how to work with wood and he used to be in the stock show.
Name: Sarah Hayek Age: 8 Organization/Club: West Oso 4-H Parents: Imogene and Mark Hayek What is your project? Goat, Shop, Homemaking (cookies) Why did you choose this project? I like goats. Who influenced your project and why? My brother and sister Cassie and Brody because they have been participating in the livestock show doing it forever, and I wanted to.	Name: Amy Jo McClendon Age: 10 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Guy and Kathy McClendon What is your project? Goat Why did you choose this project? I love goats! They are very playful and have fun personalities. I am raising a meat goat for the show, but we also raise dairy goats. I help milk our goats. We have made lots of yummy things like cheese, yogurt and puddings from our goat milk. Who influenced your project and why? We have some good friends, the Romikes, that raise a huge herd of meat goats. They have so much fun working and showing their goats that I wanted to give it a try. It’s fun!
Name: Katie Lynn McClendon Age: 13 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Guy and Kathy McClendon What is your project? Steer Why did you choose this project? I really enjoyed raising a heifer the past two years. I thought I would try something a little different this year so I raised a steer. Who influenced your project and why? My friend, Lisa Greenwood, shows steers and heifers. I watched her show her heifer about three or four years ago and it looked like a lot of fun. I wasn’t sure if I could handle such a big animal. I remember seeing Abby Loessin when she was only about 8 years old out in the show ring with some huge heifers. By seeing her out there, it gave me the courage I needed to give it a try. I’m glad I did!	Name: Mary Lou McClendoncq Age: 9 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Guy and Kathy McClendon What is your project? Goat Why did you choose this project? My sister Amy Jo wanted to raise a goat, and I thought it would be fun to raise our animals together. I really like cows, but a goat is a good-size animal to prepare me for working with a heifer some day. Who influenced your project and why? My parents encouraged me to wait on raising a heifer. They told me to first take good care of my goat and show them how I can be responsible in feeding, watering, walking, training and grooming my goat. Cows are my favorite animals, but this has been a great learning experience for me.
Name: Christina Villalon Age: 10 Organization/Club: Tuloso-Midway 4-H Parents: Judy and Alvarocq Villalon What is your project? Rabbits, Homemaking (cross-stitch) Why did you choose this project? I chose to raise rabbits because they are fluffy and are easier for me to handle than some of the other animals. Who influenced your project and why? Many things have influenced my rabbit project such as my parents, the rabbit breeders, friends and reading materials have helped me meet the decision to raise rabbits. It is fun to watch them hop and grow during the time that I have them.	Name: Courtney Burch Age: 13 Organization/Club: Tuloso-Midway 4-H Parents: Melvin and Carolyn Burch What is your project? Goats, Homemaking Why did you choose this project? I chose goats because of their wonderful personality and because they’re so lovable. Who influenced your project and why? The Nueces County Junior Livestock Show. I enjoyed seeing, meeting and being with all the wonderful people that come to the show.
Name: Brian Tiller Age: 16 Organization/Club: Cloverleaf 4-H Parents: Lee and Lynette Tiller What is your project? Lambs, Carcass Steer, Homemaking, Shop Why did you choose this project? In 4-H I try to be as active as possible. I started raising lambs my first year and haven’t stopped since. I started the carcass steer show this year to broaden my animal knowledge and participate in shop and homemaking to develop different skills in life. Who influenced your project and why? Most definitely my parents. They have inspired me and helped me greatly along the way. My brother was, for a long time, my partner in raising sheep and many other things. And last, my cousins, who introduced me to 4-H and taught me many skills and qualities needed by successful 4-Hers.	Name: Elizabeth Russell Age: 13 Organization/Club: Horseman’s 4-H Parents: Barbara and Weezie Russell What is your project? Horse Why did you choose this project? I chose Jet as my project because I have owned him for almost two years and I enjoy showing him in 4-H horse shows. Who influenced your project and why? My parents have been very supportive. They encouraged my interest in horses and started me in riding lessons when I was 6 years old. My first instructor, Catherine O’Connor, showed me all the fun I could have riding and caring for a horse. Jet and I spend lots of time together, but my parents insist my school work comes first. Jet is just the best and even though we don’t always place highly in shows, I always know he does his best for me.
Name: Zackry Lange Age: 12 Organization/Club: Northwest 4-H Parents: Sue Gray and Tim Lange What is your project? Hog, Homemaking (cookies, cake) Why did you choose this project? I have fun baking and I like feeding and playing with my hogs. Who influenced your project and why? Mr. David McCain by showing me what to feed and how much to feed because I’m sort of a beginner. I got second and got picked for showmanship because of him.	Name: Caitlin Lange Age: 9 Organization/Club: Tuloso-Midway 4-H Parents: Janet and Carl Lange What is your project? Rabbits Why did you choose this project? Because I needed a small project since I’m a beginner and I like holding them. They are cuddly. Who influenced your project and why? My sister because she raised rabbits for seven years before me. It teaches me responsibility because I have to be sure they have food and water and are brushed and exercised daily.