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Titus County Fair

2024 Winners

Makenzie Victoria Taylor, daughter of Chad and Kelly Taylor and a senior at Chapel Hill High School is the recipient of a $3000 Scholarship. Makenzie is ranked 6th in her graduating class and is a very busy young lady. She credits FFA for developing her leadership skills by participating in the Leadership Development Events, competing in Greenhand Skills, Greenhand Quiz and Senior Quiz. She also participated in the Career Development Events in the Forage competition and the Veterinary Science Contest. She has participated in the public Speaking events at Titus County Fair, State Fair of Texas, San Angelo Stock Show and Houston Livestock show, while also participating in the breeding heifer shows in each of the above mentioned Fairs and Stock Shows plus Fort Worth Stock Show and the Hereford State Show and National Show. Other organizations that Makenzie is involved with through school include:  Career and Technology Education Ambassador;  a part of the Well Student Advisory Committee; National Honor Society (through which she has participated in community service events such as the Senior Citizen Luncheon, produce drops at First Baptist Church, Salvation Army Bell Ringing, collecting supplies for the Rhyme Haven House and creating Valentine’s Day Cards for Cypress Basin Hospice); Early College Academy where after completing the program she will have her basic college classes completed at NTCC.  Her academic honors and accomplishments include: Level 1 State Floral Certification, Academic Blanket Award for FFA Livestock, Dual Credit American Literature and Elanco Veterinary Medical Applications Certification. 

Outside of school organizations, Makenzie is a member of Texas Junior Polled Hereford Association that she credits with helping her to step out of her comfort zone, perfecting her skills and talents in show cattle, giving her a passion for public speaking and helping her continue to improve and polish those speaking skills. The National Junior Hereford Association has broadened her horizons from state to national level and gave her the opportunity to attend their convention in Grand Island, Nebraska, which was the biggest show she had ever attended and a most meaningful experience.  The Texas Farm Bureau Student Success Series started her 8th grade year and she attended the last conference of the series in Waco, TX this past summer. Throughout this series she has learned about the free enterprise system, how to create, develop and sell a marketing plan, has had intensive media training, and learned how to become a better public speaker. She is grateful to her local Titus County Farm Bureau and Texas Farm Bureau for providing her with the wonderful opportunities to learn many life skills that will help her in future career endeavors.  

Makenzie’s Fair Participation started in 2nd grade when she competed in the Academic Rodeo Spelling Bee competition.  In 3rd grade she competed in the livestock show exhibiting a Simmental Heifer. She admits it was a little scary at first, but was excited to be Showing on her own and not just helping her older brother with his projects.  She also competed in Science Fair at the Academic Rodeo with “Dirty Pennies” and what substance worked best in turning them from dull to shiny. 4th grade she competed in the Fair Academic Rodeo Bible Reading contest and exhibited a picture of a Catahoula dog, placing 3rd. 5th grade she tested five different brands of stain remover on spaghetti sauce on jeans and placed 2nd with her red Simmental heifer, Dreamer. She also competed in Jr. Showmanship.  6th grade she entered her Coke bottle painting in the Art contest, placing 2nd and won Grand Champion Jr. Showman while showing her heifer. 7th grade she exhibited a Simmental heifer, placing 1st in class and competed in showmanship in Jr. Category. 8th grade due to Covid, the Titus County Fair was cancelled, but Titus County held a Youth Expo where she exhibited 2 Simmental heifers one winning overall Grand Champion heifer and she won Reserve Champion in Jr. Showmanship. Her 2nd heifer placed 1st in her Class. 9th grade she again exhibited 2 heifers Peaches placed 1st in her class and Rosie won Reserve Simmental heifer. She competed in heifer showmanship in the senior category. This year she competed in the floral design competition for the first time placing 11th with her triangular arrangement. 10th grade Makenzie competed in Public Speaking and made it to the final round. She placed 10th with her floral arrangement.  She exhibited two heifers with Alice, her Hereford placed 1st in her class and win Reserve British Division. Legacy, her Simmental, placed 2nd in her class.  She also exhibited a wether in the Market Sheep and “George” place 4th in his class and made the sale. She competed in the sheep showmanship competition and the breeding heifer showmanship. 11th grade Makenzie won Grand Champion in the Public Speaking competition with her speech on cattle hoof health. Her heifer, Ginger, placed 3rd in her class, her steer, Payback, won Reserve Champion in the market steer show and made the sale. She also competed in the heifer and steer showmanship competition and won Grand Champion Senior Showman in the Market Steer competition. 

This year Makenzie plans to compete in Public Speaking, Floral Design, Livestock Judging, Breeding Heifer Show and the Market Steer Show. She states, “I am ecstatic to participate in such a variety of competitive events for my senior year, and I am so grateful for the wonderful county fair that I have had the privilege of participating in since 2014. 

Makenzie plans to attend Texas A&M University-Commerce, TX and has applied for the Honors College program, pursuing an undergraduate degree in Animal Science. After obtaining that degree, she plans to attend Veterinary school in order to pursue a career in Veterinary Medicine.