Terry County Livestock Show season started this week, with Meadow ISD leading the way with the first local show on Thursday. Show season is something area students work toward all year long.
For those who show steers, these animals are purchased almost a year in advance and must be worked with daily. Other animals do not have to be purchased quite as early, but they must also be worked with daily if the kids want to make a good showing in the ring. Much like everything else in life, you don’t just show up that day and expect to win. It takes lots of work and hands on labor to get an animal ready to do his best on show day.
The Brownfield and Wellman-Union local shows will both be held on Saturday, January 4th at the Terry County Show Barn. Brownfield will begin showing at 9 a.m. and the Wellman-Union show will begin on Saturday afternoon.
The County Show will begin on Thursday, January 9th with weigh-in for lambs and goats taking place from 9 – 11 a.m. and weigh-in for swine and cattle beginning at 11 a.m. and running through 2 p.m. The Lamb Show will begin at 5 p.m. and will be followed immediately by the Goat Show.
The Swine Show will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, January 10th with the Gilts showing first and the Barrows showing immediately following the Gilts.
On Saturday, January 11th, the Steer Show will begin at 9 a.m. A barbecue will be held beginning at 4:30 p.m. with the Awards Ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. The Premium Sale will begin at 6 p.m.
Organizing Officials for the show include:
General Superintendent – Mike Seaton
Steer Superintendent – Rusty Day
Lamb/Goat Superintendent – Richard Cavasos
Swine Superintendent – Keith Harrison
Terry County Agent – Geoff Cooper
FFA Advisors – Brownfield – Sheldon Franks, Meadow – Regan Stuart and Wellman-Union – Tyler Hatley
Judges for the show will be Jake Franke – Steer Judge, Andrew Sprague – Lamb and Goat Judge, and Corey Rains – Swine Judge
Auctioneer for the Premium Sale will be C. Jason Spence. Announcer will be Steve Osborn, Weigh-in Clerks will be Candy Cudd, Lexi Floyd and Mike Seaton. Bedding Sales will be provided by All Star Peanuts.
UIL rules apply for the showing of animals, meaning that an exhibitor must be passing and in good standing with his or her respective school district. No animal shall be shown by another exhibitor for a non-passing student unless that animal was also validated in the name of a sibling. Exhibitors may show a maximum of five head of livestock, which is also limited to only three head of swine, four head of steers, four head of goats and four head of lambs in any combination to equal no more than five animals total.
Showmanship awards will also be awarded in each division with a Junior and a Senior Showmanship awarded.
According to Geoff Cooper, Terry County Extension Agent, there are about 65 exhibitors registered with around 130 animals. This is down a little from last year, but the young group is strong, so the future looks bright.
At last year’s Premium Sale, exhibitors earned over $270,000 from buyers. A Premium Sale means that the exhibitors keep their animals. The buyers are basically purchasing the exhibitors effort and not the animal. There will be a Buyers’ Lunch on Tuesday at noon at the Terry County Stock Show Barn for all the buyers for the show. There will be a breakfast for exhibitors on Saturday morning prior to the show.
Get out to the Terry County Show Barn and support your local youth.
