Manson FFA brings hard work, lessons and livestock to Chelan County Fair

MANSON – Manson High School’s FFA students have spent their summer doing the kind of work most people never see — feeding animals before sunrise, weighing them in the heat of the day and practicing how to walk into the show ring with calm confidence.

This year, about a dozen Manson students are headed to the Chelan County Fair, with 11 bringing livestock and at least one entering canning and other still-life projects, according to Manson FFA Co-Advisor Angel Gosvener.

For senior Bailey Evans, the months of preparation have been as much about learning as they have been about getting an animal ready for the fair.

“I raise Boer market goats through FFA, and I’ve really enjoyed getting to learn more about them and everything that goes into raising them,” Evans said. “Raising goats has taught me a lot about responsibility, patience, and hard work. I’ve also learned that every goat is different, so you have to figure out what works best for each one when it comes to feeding, training, and keeping them healthy.”

That hands-on experience is exactly what Gosvener hopes students take away from FFA.

This year, students will show pigs, goats, rabbits and chickens.

“We have some that this is their first year going to fair,” she said. “There’s a couple seniors that just decided they’re just going to give it a shot this year, and so this will be their first go with it.”

Market realities are also shaping students’ choices. 

“We have one student who raised a goat last year, and this year decided to try raising a pig,” Gosvener said. “I think mainly because goats are a lot harder to sell than pigs. There’s just not much demand for them. So she’s kind of broadening her skills and farming skills.”

For Evans, however, raising goats has become one of the highlights of her FFA experience.

“One of my favorite parts is seeing how much they grow and change from when I first get them to fair time and knowing how much work went into getting them there,” she said.

Manson’s FFA chapter is also seeing fresh energy from younger students who already have some agricultural experience.

“We have some freshmen this year that were part of the Manson Grange program,” Gosvener said. “So they’re moving up into our FFA group. That’s pretty cool. They already have some experience.”

By the time fair week arrives, the spotlight is on the show ring. But most of the learning happens long before the first ribbon is handed out.

“Mainly, they’ve just been taking care of their animals—feeding them, washing them,” Gosvener said. “They should be taking time to walk them now, just practicing the showing.”

Students and advisors are carefully tracking growth along the way.

As fair approaches, much of Gosvener’s advice centers on how students carry themselves — both with their animals and in front of the judge.

“The main advice we give them is to just be calm and confident,” she said. “Even though you’ve maybe spent a lot of time with your pig, walking your pig at home, the reality is they might do great at home, but when you get them to fair, they might act totally different. You just never know.”

Raising and exhibiting livestock is a crash course in responsibility.

“They gain the skill of responsibility,” Gosvener said. “They gain the skill of nurturing—having to take care of the animal, make sure that it’s healthy and it’s comfortable as best as they can and well fed.”

Like every FFA chapter, Manson would be thrilled to bring home top honors.

But her bigger hope is that every student walks away with something more lasting than a ribbon.

“Really, I just want them to have a positive experience,” she said. “I just want them to realize the value of good work ethic, and even though it’s hard, it’s worth it.”

She also wants them to recognize the network of people supporting them.

“I hope they take away knowing that people are there to support them, to help them,” she said. “All they have to do is ask.”

For Evans, the payoff is already in the work itself — watching an animal grow, learning what it needs and seeing the results of months of effort.

As fairgoers make their way through the Chelan County Fairgrounds, Gosvener hopes they will take time to visit the livestock barns and see what Manson’s students have accomplished.

For students who have spent months feeding, training and learning, having someone stop to listen and ask a question means a lot.

“To be able to share that with the community means a lot,” she said.