Nancy and Rick Townsend represented Forney in a big way at this year’s Kaufman County Junior Livestock Show held in March. This annual tradition draws participants from across the county and is about more than just livestock as the name would imply. Participants can showcase a wide array of talents in the arts, crafts, and culinary fields. The Townsends entered several items in the Creative Talent section and came away with a total of four grand champion awards, one reserve grand champion award, two blue ribbons, and one red ribbon.
The Kaufman County Junior Livestock Show is a time-honored event that allows school-age kids as well as adults to enter creative arts and cooking contests to showcase their talent. It’s more than just a competition, though; it’s a celebration of heritage, community pride, and hard work.
Nancy retired from Forney I.S.D. several years ago after teaching for 39 years. She taught kindergarten, first grade, and middle school art during her career, and her love for art has continued even after leaving the classroom. This year, she entered a collage and a sculpture item, both of which were awarded grand champion rosettes. Her collage showcased her eye for composition, while the sculpture reflected her creative flair. Nancy also won two blue ribbons and a reserve grand champion ribbon with her entries in the photo division of the contest. Her art pieces and photography have received numerous ribbons in past years at the State Fair of Texas, the Kaufman County show, and other events.
Her husband, Rick, is a lifelong resident of Forney and a retired firefighter. He worked at the Garland Fire Department for 28 years and served the Forney Fire Department for 44 years as a volunteer fireman and Chief until his retirement in 2020. One of his favorite pastimes is cooking, and this year his kitchen creations earned high praise. He received two grand champion awards at the Kaufman County Fair for his honey bread and an apricot custard pie. He also received a red ribbon for his apple fried pies. Rick has also received numerous awards at the State Fair of Texas and other local events for canned jams and jellies and baked goods.
Together, Rick and Nancy represent the heart of the Forney community – dedicated, creative, and passionate about giving back. They are active members of Forney’s First Baptist Church and have two children and five grandchildren who have all cheered them on over the years.
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