TURLOCK – Dakota Rutherford is getting to be pretty good at this fair thing.

In 2018, as the youngest competitor in her class, Dakota walked away with two ribbons for her market Hampshire hog. She hadn’t even started eighth grade yet, but was up against mostly high school students.

At this year’s Stanislaus County Fair, the Denair High School freshman-to-be backed up her accomplishment, again finishing second in her market division with her 253-pound Hampshire hog Dolly Porkton. She also was fifth in intermediate hog showmanship.

“I don’t know,” said Dakota when asked about her success with pigs. “I just love them. They’re the sweetest animals.”

That affection doesn’t get in the way of the undeniable truth when it comes to all market animals at the fair. Today’s cute hog, steer, goat or other market animal is soon to be someone else’s meal. As the fair winds down this weekend, the market auctions always provide a stark finality to months and months of care and devotion by Dakota and her other Denair FFA members.

“I’ll sell her and she’ll be processed,” said Dakota matter-of-factly.

“She won’t admit to it, but it still hurts a little,” said Denair ag teacher Holli Nielsen.

Dakota may not be sentimental, but she draws the line at actually eating an animal she has raised – though it almost happened last year.

“My uncle bought my hog,” she said. “We were on a houseboat and he said he was making sausage from her. I passed.”

Dakota was among 21 Denair students who entered animals this year in livestock competitions involving dairy and beef cattle, goats, sheep and swine.

In addition, more than 60 entries were submitted by Denair FFA members in the horticulture and floral barns, with impressive success. Denair’s floral entries were awarded 56 first-place ribbons, including a Best of Show in silk flower arrangements for Makena Padgett. Denair’s succulents won five more firsts and two of its fairy gardens earned blue ribbons. The Coyotes also received third place for their 10-foot by 20-foot plot.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

A mobile medical unit will return to the Denair Unified School District on Wednesday, July 31 to offer free care to all students.

Immunization shots, sports physicals, and primary and basic health screening all will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. thanks to a partnership involving local health providers. In May, more than 150 Denair students took advantage of the service.

The mobile health RV will be parked near the Coyote Center on the Denair Middle School campus. July 31 coincides with Coyote Call – the day high school and middle school students come to school to pick up their schedules, join clubs and sports teams, meet advisers and coaches, and buy yearbooks.

“Since they will already be on campus for Coyote Call that day, this is a great way for families to get medical needs addressed at no charge,” said Terry Metzger, Denair’s superintendent. “Families will be able to complete many of the items on their back-to-school checklists: sports physicals, immunizations and general health care. We are grateful to our community partners for making this happen in Denair.”

Submitted by Denair High School

Drone camp – a big hit last summer – will return to Denair High in late July to challenge and educate students about a popular and fast-developing new technology.

About 50 youngsters enrolled in the weeklong drone camp last year, when it was offered for the first time. The turnout was a big reason the Ohio-based company is coming back to Denair.

Parents whose sons and daughters are interested should sign up soon for either the morning or afternoon session.

Also returning in early July is a hands-on football camp run by Denair High coach Anthony Armas, his staff and some of his varsity players.

Here is more information about the camps, the age range of those eligible to enroll and contact information.

Football Camp

• Dates: July 1-2
• Time: 9-11 a.m.
• Cost: Free
• Ages: 7-13
• Coach:  Anthony Armas aarmas@dusd.k12.ca.us or (209) 620-1985
• Details: Players will learn general football skills on offense and defense, separated by position. The focus will be on proper techniques. There will be no contact. Players should wear shorts, T-shirts and cleats. Players should be their own snacks and drinks.

Drone Camp

• Dates: July 22-26
• Time: 8 a.m. to noon or 1-5 p.m.
• Cost: Free (space is limited however)
• Ages: 9-15
• Coach: Darrin Allen dallen@dusd.k12.ca.us or www.dronecamp.org

Details: This is about hands-on learning, innovation and adventure. Students will take to the skies and becoming an honorary junior drone pilot. Three free meals will be available for all students.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

The national champion  Vanguard Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Santa Clara will return to Denair later this week with all its brass instruments, drums and colorful flags.

This is the 10th year in a row that the Santa Clara contingent has kicked off its competition season in Denair. Essentially, the week in the valley is the equivalent of spring training in baseball or summer camp in football.

The formula appears to be working. Last year, the Bay Area group captured the Drum Corps International Open Class Championship for the sixth time (and fourth since it has been training in the valley).

Longtime director Steve Barnhill and his 150-member crew – plus about 30 adults and chaperones – will arrive Saturday. They will rehearse each day starting Sunday, ending the week with a free public performance July 11 at Jack Lytton Stadium.

Submitted by Denair Unified School District:

Employees are the biggest winners in the $15.3 million budget for 2019-20 approved unanimously Thursday night by the Denair Unified School District board.

As expected, the spending plan includes salary restoration for teachers, administrators and other staff, all of whom took substantial pay cuts six years ago when the district faced financial crisis.

“The trustees were thrilled to see this happen,” Superintendent Terry Metzger said Friday. “This has been their priority.”

Restoration was achieved via a number of factors that either reduced expenses or increased revenue.

One of the key moments came this spring when Gov. Gavin Newsom chose to contribute more to the State Teachers Retirement System, or STRS. That decision will save Denair $87,500 in the next budget year, Chief Business Officer Linda Covello told trustees last week. That money will be devoted to salary restoration.

So will an estimated $110,000 saved through a dramatic reduction in out-of-town travel, lodging, meals and other costs associated with teacher and staff training in 2019-20. Instead, Covello explained, the professional development focus next year will be on training done internally or on campus. That decision was reached after positive discussions between staff and administrators.

Finally, the district expects to increase revenue from the state by about $60,000 based on having improved attendance rates at all its campuses this year.

In other action, trustees: