Every year since 2002 the LaSalvia family, owners of Los Banos Abattoir, have held a beef carcass contest right after the Merced County Spring Fair to award the top three beef competitors.
The LaSalvia family said the contest provides the students with a rare opportunity to see the end product from their hard work and dedication to their fair animals.
This year the first place winner is Adam Azevedo, a junior FFA student at Hilmar High School. Second place went to Vincent Rodriguez, an OLF 4H eighth grader at Creekside Junior High in Los Banos. Third place went to his older brother, Xavier Rodriguez, a Los Banos High School FFA senior who, following graduation, will be attending Universal Technical Institute in Sacramento. Xavier wants to be a diesel mechanic.
