Adair County FFA students returned from the Kentucky State Fair with numerous honors in welding, dairy and livestock judging, agricultural mechanics, nursery contests and crops.
Among the top accomplishments was the Adair County FFA chapter being named Grand Champion Chapter Agricultural Mechanics Exhibit for its restoration of a 1959 John Deere 730 owned by Michael and Tiffany Mitchum.
Brent Moore earned Grand Champion in Large Restoration Agricultural Mechanics and Grand Champion Individual Agricultural Mechanics.
“Winning the grand champion in large restoration, individual ag mechanics and overall chapter exhibit is an enormous accomplishment,” FFA adviser Gabby Barnes said. “The students worked all year planning and preparing exhibits, including the 1959 John Deere 730.”
The tractor restoration was a yearlong effort that involved more than 30 students.
“We spent a year working to disassemble, clean, repair and repaint the tractor,” Barnes said. “It was definitely a team effort, with over 30 students being involved in some stage of the project.”
“I am so proud of how hard the students worked and how well the projects turned out,” Barnes said.
Adair County also earned top finishes in dairy and livestock judging. The junior dairy judging team placed third, with Laramie Baldwin earning High Individual in the state. The junior livestock judging team placed second, with Millie Chumbley earning High Individual in the state.
“Dairy and livestock judging require students to gather information, compare, make decisions, synthesize information, and speak publicly,” FFA adviser Robin Hancock said. “I am so unbelievably proud of these teams and how hard they worked at these skills.”
“As well, Laramie and Millie performed amazingly to be named High individuals in their contests,” Hancock said. “Truly, all of our Adair County FFA students made Adair County proud.”
The welding team of Camey Bernard, Gage Maslen, Rayson Richard and Robert Shaffer placed second in the state. Shaffer placed fifth individually and earned a $1,500 scholarship to the Kentucky Welding Institute.
Adair County FFA students also received numerous blue ribbons and top finishes in agricultural mechanics exhibits and crop competitions.
These contests help FFA members learn lifelong skills that can be applied to their future careers. The FFA program thrives on our students and community supporters.
Additional Kentucky State Fair honors
Dairy Judging
• Third place Junior Dairy Judging team: Andrew Miller, Will Reynolds, Madison Foster and Laramie Baldwin. Baldwin was named High Individual in the state.
• Seventh place Senior Dairy Judging team: Rosalie Reynolds, Braxton Irvin, Kantlee Harvey and Addie Baker.
Livestock Judging
• Second place Junior Livestock Judging team: Trinity Hancock, Branson Minton, Haylee McGuffin and Millie Chumbley. Chumbley was named High Individual in the state.
• 10th place Senior Livestock Judging team: Allee Campbell, Claire Loy, Breanna Foster and Hudson Hancock. Hancock was the fourth-highest individual in the state.
Nursery Contest
• 10th place Nursery team: Abby Maulden, Amelia Martin, Alayna Marcum and Daniel Burris.
Agricultural Mechanics Exhibits
• Daniel Burris — Display Shelf, Blue Ribbon
• Ethan Wooten — Large Podium, Blue Ribbon
• Gage Maslen — Smoker, Blue Ribbon
• Bryson Hadley — Welding Cart, Blue Ribbon
• Hudson Hancock — Large Mineral Feeder, Blue Ribbon
Crops
• John Gaskins, ACMS FFA — Seventh place 2026 soybeans; 13th place 2026 corn
• Greyson Pelston — 12th place 2026 soybeans; Blue Ribbon 2026 corn; 10th place 2025 corn
• Hudson Hancock — Third place 2025 corn; Blue Ribbon 2026 soybeans
• Braxton Irvin — Eighth place alfalfa hay; Blue Ribbon 2026 corn
• Lane Kelsay — 11th place alfalfa hay; Blue Ribbon soybeans
