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240 animals entered in stock show

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By Sandy Morris

After months of preparation, the annual Shackelford County Livestock Show will take place starting Thursday, Jan. 21 and ending Saturday afternoon, Jan. 23 after the premium sale.

Albany and Moran FFA and 4-H exhibitors are expected to show close to 250 entries at the Shackelford County Youth Livestock Show barn this week.

Weigh-In

The livestock show will start on Thursday, Jan. 21 with weigh-in for hogs, lambs, and goats followed by weigh-in for poultry, rabbits, and cattle on Friday, Jan. 22. 

A total of 240 animals will be weighed in and shown by 132 exhibitors this year.

Although student participation is up slightly from the 124 youth who showed last year, the total number of animals is down a little from 256 in 2020. 

There are 109 hog entries, nine sheep, and 19 goats to be weighed in on Thursday. 

Friday weigh-ins will include 12 chickens, 75 rabbits, and 15 cattle. 

Cattle will need to arrive no earlier than 4:00 p.m. for the weigh-in and paper check which will take place from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Cattle must stay at the show barn after weighing in. 

Classes will be judged on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 22-23, with all judging being done by Nolan County extension agent Zachary Wilcox.

Show Schedule

Friday, Jan. 22

Animals will be exhibited according to the following schedule

Swine – Friday, Jan. 22 at 8:00 a. m. followed by Junior and Senior Swine Showmanship.

Goats – Friday, Jan. 22, after the swine and followed by the Junior and Senior Goat Showmanship.

Sheep – Friday, Jan. 22, after the goats and followed by the Junior and Senior Sheep Showmanship.

Saturday, Jan. 23

Cattle – Saturday, Jan. 23 at 8:00 a.m. with Junior and Senior Cattle Showmanship immediately after cattle judging. 

Rabbits – Saturday, Jan. 23, after the cattle show at approximately 9:00 a.m. with Junior and Senior Rabbit Showmanship held after the judging. 

Poultry – Saturday, Jan. 23, after the rabbit judging with Junior and Senior Poultry Showmanship following the judging.

Pee Wee showmanship will be conducted after the poultry showmanship and will be followed by the Showmanship Belt Buckle Presentation.

Graduating seniors will be recognized on Saturday following the Showmanship Buckle presentation. 

Premium Sale

The Premium Sale will begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23. 

Animals that are going through the premium sale must stay on the grounds until they sell.

Animals that are not going through the Premium Sale will be released immediately after their show is complete. 

Swine, sheep, and goats that are leaving must be out of the barn by 4:00 p.m. on Friday. 

All floor animals must stay in the barn until they are secured by the floor buyer. 

Auction Facts

Now that the annual show is almost underway, the main focus for stock show organizers is gathering a large number of bidders for Saturday’s auction.

The bidders pool monies are divided among the projects entered in the sale, using a formula based on weight.

After the floor price, or market price per pound, is established, various packers arrange for actual purchase of the animals. Any bids received at the sale are added on top of the floor price.

Association rules state that flat $3, $5 and $10 increments will be used in the “add-on” bidding, rather than amounts per pound.

Rabbits and poultry projects will be raised at $3 for each bid, while sheep, swine and goats will be bid at $5 increments. Steers and heifers are raised $10 with each bid.

Anyone planning to bid during the sale should register for a bidder’s card prior to the auction.

Packers purchase many of the projects, but a few pigs are usually available for purchase by individuals.

Those interested in buying a hog should contact Chris Beard, or stop by the office at the show barn before 9:00 a.m. on Friday.

Fundraising

SCYLA set and reached their minimum goal of $20,000, according to treasurer Molly Cauble. 

“All donations that have been received are designated to go toward the expenses of the stock show, such as ribbons, belt buckles, supplies, and premium money,” said Cauble. 

Cauble said the organization will continue to accept the tax-deductible donations during the show with additional funds going into the Bidder’s Pool. 

The Bidders Pool provides a baseline premium to all the animals in the sale.

Exhibitors also have been selling tickets for two separate raffles to raise funds for the annual livestock show.

A Savage Stevens 12 gauge Model 320 pump action shotgun is one item being raffled.

Raffle tickets are priced at $5 per ticket, or five tickets for $20.

Jerry Lancaster with Deep Creek Trading Post in Moran has donated a processed hog to be raffled.

Tickets for the hog raffle are $1 each or $5 for six tickets. They can be purchased from any Shackelford County ag student, FFA member, or 4-H member. Winners will be announced at the show after the sale. 

The organization also will have a concession stand open during both days of the show, with all proceeds also going back into the show. 

Photo Schedule

Professional color photographs will once again be taken of exhibitors with their animals. 

The photographs will be taken by Donnie Lucas, with the stock show association benefitting from the proceeds.

Lucas will set up on Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. for pigs, lambs and goats, and on Saturday from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. for cattle, rabbits, poultry , and all other photos. 

The newspaper will need pictures of all overall champions, reserve champions, and showmanship winners for next week’s  special section. 

An association volunteer will man a table next to the photography area, and exhibitors or their parents should sign up if they want a photo taken.

The pictures must be paid in advance.

Photos should be available for pickup in the county agent’s office in the Courthouse by the end of February. 

Last Minute 

Preparations

Exhibitors and their parents pitched in on Saturday, Jan. 16 for the stock show barn clean-up day.

Beard said they have been clipping animals all week to get ready for the show.

“We started clipping animals as soon as we finished the clean-up on Saturday,” said Beard. “Everyone involved has working all week to be ready for Thursday.”