What Is "First Place Florida?

Hey! (That’s me in the picture, first one on the left, pictured with some of the reasons why I do what I do.)

I’m a former club and chapter member, and a lifelong showman and judging team member at heart, born and raised right here in the Sunshine State. As a youth, I showed sheep, goats and poultry across the state, and was a member of countless judging teams, including trips to the national level for poultry and livestock.

Over the years, I’ve been on both sides — I was a youth participant, and now I have served as a coach, volunteer and support for youth in my community and across the state who enjoy the same things I do. Long ago, through my time on both sides, I learned that there wasn’t one place that had *all* off the important info needed to find opportunities to be successful: lists of shows and events, rules and entry form, links to get in touch with organizers, or a place to go for results and updates similar to those of other states.

All the info was out there – on websites and blogs of fairs and other events, Facebook and Instagram pages, email lists, word of mouth and many other places – just not in one place. For what I did find, it was only what was submitted or from the one event itself: none had EVERY fair or jackpot show cataloged in one place.

After some requests from others, and needing a project for a freshman college course, that later turned into a project for several others, the idea to create the site was born. As someone with an immense passion for youth in agriculture, a degree in agricultural communications, connections of my own, and some top-notch research skills, too, this is the perfect role for me.

What is now “First Place Florida” started as the “Florida Judging Connection” in 2015, as a single webpage devoted to listing livestock judging contests at various fairs. Later that year, other judging events were added, in addition to posting results and recognizing youth. Two years later, in 2017, the site morphed into the “Florida Judging and Showing Connection,” and as it grew, the site became a home for both Florida’s judging contests and livestock show listings.

Mid-2018 brought the rebrand into “First Place Florida,” with an all-new site layout. In 2019, a few of the smaller pages, and the “hub and spoke” model for individual events (for organization and better SEO, for all the techies out there) were introduced, 2020 brought a full migration to a standalone WordPress site, and in 2021, a few new features and the chance to make the site even bigger.

If you’re reading this, chances are I’ve been in your shoes, as a showman, supporter or organizer. I spent each of my secondary school years judging and showing across the state, but by no means have I ever attended *all* of the events listed on this site. Unfortunately, though, life didn’t allow me to show every weekend, have a barn full of animals or cap off my career at a national-level show, but I know that today, this is reality for many of the outstanding showmen in our state.

Each of the events listed on this site are the hard work of someone (or someone-s) and are attended by many someone-s. Florida is stronger than ever in the stock show world, from the local and county to regional and national levels, and it’s important that each event offered is detailed in one place that contributes to their success in Florida and beyond.

Years ago, I originally did, and still do dedicate this site to my own coach (she hasn’t forgotten her identity yet, like she’s forgotten her purse in various places on trips and how many lives she has left, I think she’s down to four after last March, I hope) as without her, I would have given up my livelihood long ago. I never knew that going to see and old friend in January years ago would take me across the state and nation with you and many others, with so many memories along with the way.

I hope this adventure helps you, me and many others continue doing what we love in the Sunshine State and beyond. Love ya.

If you have any questions or comments about the site, please reach out and let me know. I want to make this the best resource that it possibly can be.

Best,