By Dawn Lindsay & Amber McCalister

Simoore Grange is a local community youth organization that is under the umbrella of The National Grange of the Order of Patrons and Husbandry, which is a fraternal organization in the United States that encourages families to band together to promote the economic and political well-being of the community and agriculture. This organization is of interest to all who are growers, processors, and consumers of agricultural products. The Grange Youth Fair Program is a sanctioned body of The National Grange, made up of young people from the age of 5 through 19 years old. Since 1873, the mission of the California State Grange has been to serve, steward, and teach the virtues of the land to our children and community. They maintain their commitment to grassroots advocacy, supporting farmland preservation, farm development, community service, sustainable and regenerative agriculture, and the consumer’s role in the food production system.

The local Simoore Grange club is a non-profit organization that serves youth and families in Ventura County. The members of Simoore Grange are a unique brand of today’s youth. For several months (up to 11 months for cattle!), they feed, clean up after, train, and groom their market animals in preparation for the Ventura County Fair in August. They spend hours each week with their animals. The animals are their priority right along-side school, homework, chores, sports, church, and family. Their expenses while raising a project animal include the cost of the animal, feed, bedding, grooming materials, show fees, and sometimes medical expenses. They also prepare for the Ventura County Fair by participating in several practice shows throughout the spring and summer months.

This past Saturday, May 18th, the Simoore Grange organization hosted the first annual Citrus Classic Livestock Show at the home of Michael & Amber McCalister of Santa Paula. This show allowed local youth, who are planning to take their market goats, lambs, and cattle to the Ventura County Fair, an opportunity to practice their showmanship skills, as well as gain valuable feedback about the marketability of their animal from the knowledgeable and experienced judge, Clemente Ayon from Santa Maria. Belt buckles for 1st place in Senior, Junior, and Novice Showmanship were awarded, as well as a buckle for the Grand Market Champion. The award for the Reserve Champion goat and lamb were Pro Cool Blankets and the cattle was a leather show halter.

The Citrus Classic winners for Showmanship were: Brooke Allen, Sespe 4H (Senior Goat), Joseph Deniz, South West 4H (Junior Goat), Brett Bowman, Santa Rosa Valley 4H (Novice Goat), Kaitlyn Prado, Briggs 4H (Senior Lamb), Breonna Alvarez, Briggs 4H (Junior Lamb), Jayleen Arballo, Briggs 4H (Novice Lamb), Kodi Sieben, Fillmore FFA (Senior Steer), Amber Watkins, Simoore Grange (Junior Steer), and Jadyn Pinneo, Mira Monte 4H (Novice Steer).

The Citrus Classic winners for Market were: Joseph Deniz, South West 4H (Market Champion and Reserve Market Champion Goat), Kaitlyn Prado, Briggs 4H (Market Champion Lamb), Jayleen Arballo, Briggs 4H (Reserve Market Champion Lamb), Tyler Evans, Simoore Grange (Market Champion Steer), and Ashley Watkins, Simoore Grange (Reserve Market Champion Steer).

This show, and others like it, is not possible without the generous support of local sponsors. The members of Simoore Grange and organizers of the Citrus Classic Livestock Show would like to express their gratitude to the following sponsors: Iwasiuk Ranch, RaboBank, Sharpe Plumbing, Evans Excavating, Warwar Medical Group, Ojai Valley Feed, Stagecoach Market, Haley Ranch and American Hay. We would also like to thank our sponsors from the Topa Creek Ranch Show (held in April) who were: LBL Equipment Repair, MO Town Fitness, Wachter Hay & Grain and Bill & Dawn Lindsay.

There is one more Livestock show coming up on Saturday, June 22, 2019, the Amber Leon Memorial Show. It is free to the public to view, and is open to any youth in Grange, 4H, FFA, or Independent raising market goats, lamb, and/or cattle. It will take place at the Fillmore Equestrian Center, located at 308 Chamberlain Road in Fillmore, CA. Buckles will be awarded for 1st place in Senior, Junior, Novice Showmanship, and Market Champion, and the Reserve Champion will receive a leather show halter (cattle) and Pro Cool blankets (goats & lambs). Goats sign in/weigh in at 3:00pm for a 4:00pm show; lambs sign in/weigh in at 4:00pm (show starts after goats finish); and cattle sign in/weigh in at 5:00pm (show starts after lambs finish). There is a $25 entry fee for the first animal, and a $15 entry fee for any additional animals.

If you have any questions, would like to get involved with the Simoore Grange club, and/or if you are interested in providing a tax-deductible sponsorship for a future show, please contact Joe Long (805-317-1854) or Dawn Lindsay (805-625-1143).

1) Goat Market Champion - Joseph Deniz, South West 4H

2) Lamb Market Champion - Kaitlyn Prado, Briggs 4H

3) Steer Market Champion - Tyler Evans, Simoore Grange

4) Steer Senior Showmanship Winner – Kodi Sieben, Fillmore FFA