Kelley Smith students shine in the spotlight

EAST PALATKA – Local students took top prizes at this year’s Putnam County Fair for showing hogs and goats this weekend.

Katie Lee, Kelley Smith Elementary School’s agricultural teacher, said students showed four goats, four rabbits and two hogs. Fifth-grader Kyla Rogero took first place in her class with the Kelley Smith goat, Penny, and she also landed second place in intermediate showmanship.

“I was so proud of her,” Erica Rogero said of her daughter.

This was the 10-year-old’s first time showing an animal, and although students practiced for a few months, Erica said she was very nervous during the event.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office donated Penny, whose name is short for Penitentiary, to the school after rescuing the animal during an ongoing drug case.

Erica said during Saturday’s show, Penny did not want to cooperate because she just had babies and did not want to be away from the kids just yet.

However, that did not deter Kyla from wanting to do this again, her mom said.

“It was a very awesome experience,” Erica said. “And now she’s hooked.”

This year was also third-grader Gracie Roger’s first time showing an animal. She placed first in her class with her hog, Charlotte. Roger’s mom, who is the agriculture teacher at Q.I. Roberts Junior-Senior High School, said her daughter has been practicing since December.

“I think my heart just exploded,” Kortni Rogers said. “I have no words. I’m just so proud of her.”

Her daughter did not get nervous at all. Instead, Kortni Rogers said, Gracie was excited and already wants to win the next one. Gracie wore her award, a belt buckle, to school Wednesday, Kortni added.

“She’s definitely ready to do it again. … It’s a family tradition,” said Kortni, who showed animals when she was younger.

Lee, too, was filled with pride during the shows. This is Lee’s second year teaching agriculture at Kelley Smith, but she has come full circle within the Putnam County School District.

Lee grew up locally and even attended Kelley Smith as a child. She said she showed hogs, steers and heifers until she was 18.

Now, she gets to teach children where their food comes from in her agriculture classes, and students spend a lot of time learning on the Kelley Smith farm.

At Tuesday night’s hog show, Lee said she was so thrilled that she could not control her emotions as she watched her students place in the fair event.

“I was in tears,” Lee said. “I’m getting choked up just talking about it.”

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