Pig sale to benefit local youth

This Saturday and Sunday, the Shackelford County show barn will host the 32nd Annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale, and organizers are expecting 19 consignors from four states to bring 125 pigs for the competition and sale. 

Local 4-H and FFA members worked to insure that the facility was cleaned up for the Sept. 15-16 event.

“We had a great turnout of kids and their parents for the cleanup day last Saturday,” said Shackelford County agent Michaela Bradford. “With all the help, it only took about an hour.”

Local stock show exhibitors will also shuffle pigs in the back during the sale and will clean up after the event, added Albany ag  instructor Chris Beard. 

“We try to get as many of them involved as possible, because the pig sale is a fundraiser for the local stock show,” Beard said. “It’s all for their benefit.”

Pig Show

Pigs will be received and tagged on Saturday and a preview will take place at 7:00 p.m. that evening. 

“Barbecue sandwiches and sausage wraps will be available for those that come out to the preview on Saturday,” said sale representative Mike Parsons. “Sunday morning we will judge the entries, select the breed champions, and the grand and reserve overall.” 

Mark Standlee will judge the pig show this year.

Lindner Feed and EZ Feed and Supply are sponsoring the prize money and show ribbons. 

“The sponsors contribute $2,500 in prize money and ribbons,” said Parsons. “The prize money is critical in attracting the best breeders, which ultimately raises the most money for all participants of the Shackelford County Livestock Show.”

Selection of grand and reserve champions will start at 10:00 a.m. Sunday.

Prize money of $1,000 will be awarded to the grand champion barrow and $500 to the reserve grand champion barrow. The grand and reserve grand champion gilt will be presented $800 and $350 respectively.

Jon Cooper from Yukon, Oklahoma is the auctioneer for the pig sale at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. 

Pig Consignors

Consignors from Iowa include Eggers Swine Farm from State Center, Brinning Genetics from Keota, Olson Farms from Newhall, Marek Land & Cattle from Riverside, Polich Show Pigs from Woodward, and Lewis Genetics from Center Point.

Causemaker Family Farms in Atkinson, Illinois will also send pigs.

Indiana-based consignors of pigs in the sale include Lamle Livestock from Columbia City, Travis Platt Show Pigs from Roanoke, Scher Show Pigs and Lahrs Show Pigs both from Huntington, and Kilmer Swine Farm from Monticello. 

Consignors from across the state of Texas include Rains Livestock from Roscoe, Draper Show Pigs from Eastland, RW Genetics from Anderson, Four C Show Pigs from Colorado City, Power Point Show Pigs from Stephenville, and The Stud from Montgomery.

Local consignor is EZ Farms-Ibex Genetics from Albany.

Both the 2018 grand champion barrow at Houston and the 2018 reserve grand champion barrow at San Antonio were purchased at First Impressions Pig Sale last year. 

Other pigs purchased at the sale in 2017 that won honors include the champion Duroc at Houston, a supreme gilt at San Angelo, the reserve champion in Bee County, the champion lightweight Hampshire at San Antonio, the grand champion at Hall County, the reserve grand at Scurry County, a second place Yorkshire at Fort Worth, and a second place Poland gilt at San Angelo. 

For more information on the sale, contact Parsons at 325-762-4018, Jearl Boyett at 254-433-3209, or Molly Cauble at 325-762-2366 ext. 101.