Show totals already exceed $50,000
By Kathy Thomson
The 2019 Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association county livestock show and sale was held at the county show barn last weekend, Jan. 31 through Feb. 2, and according to Shackelford County extension agent Michaela Bradford, Albany ag instructor Chris Beard, and Moran ag teacher Matthew Hise, the show was a success.
Organizers agreed that everything went went fairly smoothly despite a few technical issues, and participants, along with stock show board members and other volunteers all stepped in to help as needed.
By Saturday, Feb. 2, at the end of the auction, the bidders pool collections and pledges, which includes the $7,500 needed for basic expenses, added up to $51,935, according to SCYLA treasurer Molly Cauble.
The final amount donated for the animals sold in the auction will not be known for a couple of weeks, as some numbers still need to be tallied, and typically a few late additions to the sale pledges come in after the show.
Minor Problems
Workers dealt with computer problems Thursday night, and electricity at the arena acted up on Friday morning, according to SCYLA president Bronco Askew.
“We happened to have an electrician on hand, and he was able to get us patched up enough to make it through,” Askew said. “And the judge has a good voice, so he was able to announce (placings).”
Askew added that the weather was beautiful and the show was a good one, in spite of the numbers of participants being down a little.
One hundred and thirty-seven exhibitors registered 275 entries in the annual show, down from the 318 registered by 175 youth in 2018.
Checks from the auction will be presented to exhibitors at the Buyer-Seller Banquet scheduled for 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, in the Nancy Smith Elementary School cafeteria.
New for 2019
Four big changes from previous years include Bradford’s move from ag teacher into the county agent position, Matthew Hise stepping in as the new Moran ag teacher, omitting the traditional barbecue lunch on Saturday, and starting the auction at a different time.
This year’s sale was held at 11:00 a.m., two hours earlier than in previous years, and this year the board opted to cancel the traditional barbecue meal between the show and the auction, relying on the concession stand for on-site food options.
“The change didn’t bother us as much as we were afraid it might,” said Askew. “I think that most people stayed and ate at the concession stand, rather than leaving to eat elsewhere.”
The concession stand was open throughout the show, and this year they served around 280 hamburgers and 300 pounds of curly fries, according to Tisha Wilkins, who organized the concessions along with Debra Boyett.
“It was very steady, but we had good help,” said Wilkins.
New county agent Michaela Bradford added that she had a lot more responsibilities in the working aspects of the show, like determining class breaks, than she had in the past.
Hise was also attending to duties that were new for him.
“Although I showed animals when I was young, this was my first time to participate as an ag teacher,” said Hise. “The greatest difference is that the responsibility of feeding, watering, and working with the animals falls on the kids, not me. But on the flip side, I had to make preparations to shear sheep and clip a goat and a pig...things I had never done before!”
Pledges Needed
Cauble reminded local contributors that donation commitments need to be honored.
“We’ve already added the pledges into our totals, so in order for all this to work the way it’s supposed to, those promises have to be kept,” she said.
Statements are going out in the mail for the unpaid pledges, and live bidders who did not settle their accounts at the show will also receive their statements soon.
Donors Appreciated
“I am thankful for all the buyers and donors who reward the kids for their hard work and their dedication to their animals,” said Beard. “I can’t thank the people enough for coming out and supporting the kids. Shackelford County always does a great job helping their kids to be successful.”
Financial pledgers were among the many people that contributed to the success of the event.
Volunteers Thanked
“I want to thank all the volunteers behind the scenes,” Beard said, “not only the bidders, but also those people who donated their time working in the concession stand, the photographers who came out all three days of the show, and all the parents and others who helped clip and haul animals. It is awesome the way the people of this community support the show and the sale.”
Askew extended special thanks to the Albany Volunteer Fire Department for keeping the parking lot and alleyway watered down to decrease the dust, Mike Parsons and Trent Tankersley for serving as auctioneers, Kalico Leech for recording pledges, and the show judges.
Judging
Justin Cox from Haskell and Brad Bevel from Stamford judged the show again this year.
Cox selected winners in the rabbit and poultry classes on Thursday, and Bevel placed the swine, goat, sheep, and cattle classes on Friday and Saturday.
“This was their second year here,” Askew said. “They are good with the kids. We try to use judges for two years in a row, and we are very fortunate to have these two. ”
Champion Animals
Overall grand champions for the 2019 show include J.T. Holland – steer, Gracie Price – heifer, Chelsy Parsons – barrow, Tatum Grady – gilt, Conner Clark – market goat, Cache Clark – doe goat, Brayden Sullivan – market lamb and ewe lamb, Morgan Garcia – market rabbits, Wesley Gleitz – doe rabbit, Ethan Green – buck rabbit, and Ellis Hise – poultry.
Showmanship buckles in the junior judging were claimed byKenzie Neve – cattle, Callan Edgar – swine, Cache Clark – goats, Paisley Clark – lambs, Pecos Duke – rabbits, and Ellis Hise – poultry.
Senior showmen were Gracie Price – cattle, Cutter Edgar – swine, Brayden Sullivan – goats, Pepper Martin – lambs, Morgan Garcia – rabbits, and Blanton Belcher – poultry.
Class by class results from the 2019 stock show, are listed in the special section included with this issue.
