Livestock Evaluation team pictured above from left to right: Abigail Carlberg, Brenden Reding, Kadence Durow and Anna Carlberg
Randolph's FFA chapter found success across New York this summer, earning top competition wins at county fairs and the New York State Fair. Their performances have qualified several members to represent the state at national competitions this fall.
The summer season saw strong results in animal showmanship at the Cattaraugus County Fair. Easton Pence was named Grand Champion goat showman, and Taylor Costa earned third in the senior showmanship contest. Vadar, a market goat shown by Costa, also won first place in the intermediate weight class and was named highly commendable.
Other members also excelled at the Cattaraugus County Fair, with Quinn Pence earning Reserve Grand Champion showman for hogs and Nick Beaver taking high honors with his market steer and beef heifers. In first-year showmanship, Erin Little and Aubrey Green placed first and third, respectively. Katrina Schrantz from the Falconer Central School District was named Grand Champion Sheep showman.
At the Genesee County Fair, Randolph students showcased their technical skills. Taylor Hayes won first place in the state tractor driving competition, marking the second consecutive year a Randolph student has claimed the top spot. Nick Beaver also placed ninth, Grady Steward 11th, and Brenden Reding 12th. In the welding contest, Reagan Smith placed third, Bryson Pitts placed fifth, and the team of Hayes and Smith had a third-place overall finish.
"This summer seemed to go by really fast, but I think it was great,” said Arissa Hitchcock, Ag. teacher and FFA advisor for Randolph. “I was proud of the tractor drivers and welders. They wanted to do good, and they did. We had a lot of Randolph students and FFA members crushing it in showmanship. And we were truly blown away with the State Fair results.”
After getting in some practice at the Erie County Fair, the chapter's success culminated at the New York State Fair. Randolph’s Livestock Evaluation team won the state title for the third year in a row. The group, consisting of Brenden Reding, Kadence Durow, and Falconer students Abigail Carlberg and Anna Carlberg, will now represent New York at the National FFA Convention & Expo in Indianapolis from Oct. 29 to Nov. 1, 2025. The team will also compete at The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts, beginning Sept. 12, 2025.
In the State Fair’s Dairy Evaluation contest, several individuals earned opportunities to compete at national events. Dayne Jantzi, an independent study student from Chautauqua Lake Central Schools, placed first in both FFA and 4-H, qualifying for the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3. He will be joined by Olivia Shawley, who placed third in 4-H. Addyson Shawley’s 12th-place 4-H finish earned her a trip to the North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, Kentucky, in November. Aryana Sears also placed 10th individually in the FFA contest.
“I am very proud, and I'm really excited to see how the students do this year and how much we progress,” Miss Hitchcock said. “I feel like it's going to be a really great year just based on the students and FFA members that we have.”
In addition to her students' success, Miss Hitchcock was recently elected to serve a three-year term as the District 10 Trustee of the New York FFA Board of Trustees. The board is responsible for all statewide FFA functions, including student awards, Career Development Events, and conducting the New York State FFA Convention.