FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS
Versatile Valerie has many skills
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

Valerie York

Most royal beauties are pictured with a scepter rather than a welding stick, but that's not the case if you're looking to become the queen of the Cherokee County Livestock Show.

From showing her Brangus cows in FFA exhibitions to this year's project, which is a hog trailer, Valerie York is a Troup girl through and through.

York is a Troup native and has grown up in an environment that has taught her to be wellrounded and well-versed in many areas. She is certainly doing well at that.

York's days are filled with school, softball, volleyball and of course, FFA. She has also played saxophone in the Tiger band since the sixth grade. And she is a part of the majorette line.

Like any other teenage high school girl she enjoys shopping and hanging out with her friends.

York says growing up in Troup and having many of the same friends for most of her life has been a good thing. They enjoy having so many things in common and knowing everything about everybody. Well, maybe that's taking it a bit too far.

This shop project is a first for York. She says it's not the first time she's welded, just the first time to take a class and actually have a welding project.

"I'm learning a lot in the metal shop class," York said. "My older sister liked to weld and I just wanted to try my hand at it."

As a part of the Cherokee County Livestock Show, York is vying for the position of queen of the show. To achieve this goal there is a process of fund raising and interviews to complete. She is selling Troup Tiger hoodies and flip flops along with raffle tickets to help with her fund raising.

This is not her first round through the "show queen" ring. York won Miss Congeniality her sophomore year. Of course, this year she hopes to bring home the crown.

After graduation in May, York's future includes auditioning at Tyler Junior College for a spot on the field with the Apache Band as a feature twirler. She plans to pursue a career as a dental hygienist and receive her degree at TJC.

The doors ahead for this young lady are wide open and plentiful.

Good luck Valerie! You create quite a spark for Troup.