Members of the Wilkes County 4-H Livestock Show Team competed at the Georgia National Fair in Perry and William Thomas (right) competed in the Gwinnett County Fair recently. Courtney Thackston, Megan Thackston, Shannon Thackston and William Thomas, Wilkes County 4-H Livestock Show Team members, finished their season by competing against some 130 contestants in the 2009 Georgia National Fair held in Perry.

The show team started by competing in Showmanship. Shannon Thackston placed sixth, William Thomas placed fifth, and Megan Thackston and Courtney Thackston received honorable mention. These 4-H'ers went on to compete in weight classes where Courtney and William received honorable mention in their weight classes, Megan placed eighth with her heifer and Shannon placed eleventh.

"These students went against tough competition as they worked hard to present these animals to the judge," the team advisor said. "Each of these members has worked hard this year to make their heifers show quality. They have competed in many shows across the state to better their show skills and understand what it takes to have a prize winning heifer. Their hard work and dedication to showing really paid off."

William Thomas also competed in the Gwinnett County Fair where he placed fourth in showmanship and fourth in his weight class with his dairy heifer.