4-H, FFA kickoff party planned

Albany High agriculture teacher Chris Beard, new Moran ag instructor Matthew Hise, and Michaela Bradford, the new Shackelford County AgriLife extension agent, are all getting ready for the start of a new year of activities with FFA and 4-H students.

There will be a pool party at the Webb Park complex from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Aug. 20 for 4-H and FFA students to kick off the new school year.

FCCLA members are also invited to join the party.

Beard said that local students will exhibit steers, heifers, and goats at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene, which runs Sept. 5-15. Late livestock entries are still being accepted, but Wednesday, Aug. 22 is the final deadline.

“I’m expecting to have some calf scramble kids,” Beard added. “But I haven’t sent in those forms yet.”

Shackelford County students who intend to take sheep or goats to the major shows need to order their tags by Aug. 27, for $15 per tag, or pay a late fee of $25 per tag for tags ordered between Sept. 1 and Oct. 25.

“I need to have validation tag orders turned in to me by Aug. 27, so I can get our paperwork in on time,” Beard said. “And I need all State Fair entries turned in by Aug. 23. We have students planning to take steers, heifers, goats, and a pig to the State Fair.”

The annual First Impressions pig sale, one of the major fundraisers of the year, has been scheduled for Sept. 16 at the county show barn.

Youth interested in agriculture can join FFA if they are in a high school agriculture class, or join 4-H if they are between eight and 18 years of age.