The Next Generation of Kennewick Farmers
Youth agriculturalists sweep the annual industrial contest, demonstrating a mastery of livestock, gardening, and canning that defined early Kennewick's economy.
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In the Seventh Annual School Industrial Contest, youth across Kennewick showcased their agricultural prowess. Russell Lawson secured multiple top prizes, including honors for general vegetable displays, pumpkins, and a prize pig, eventually winning a pair of shoes for the most successful overall display. Other notable winners included Loraine Engels, who took top honors in potato cultivation and canning, and Gordon Taylor, who won a Buckeye Incubator for his poultry project. In domestic science, Winnifred Huntington and Gladys Motter dominated the cooking and sewing categories, respectively, while Ella Williams excelled in manual training furniture construction. These competitions, which included categories for everything from mechanical drawing to war bread, highlighted the rigorous industrial education provided to the area's youth in 1917.
“Best and largest display by any one boy, all classes considered, $3.50 pair of shoes, by S. D. Lynch, won by Russell Lawson.”
This agricultural competition echoes the long-standing tradition of 4-H and Future Farmers of America programs in the Tri-Cities area. While today's youth are less likely to compete in 'war bread' baking, the focus on technical, industrial, and agricultural skill-building remains a bedrock of the regional youth development ethos.
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