Buyer-Seller Banquet called off

By Kathy Thomson

The 2020 Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association’s Buyer-Seller Banquet has been cancelled, but checks will be delivered to livestock sellers as soon as all of the pledge money is turned in, according to SCYLA president Bronco Askew.

“The officers and board of directors communicated by text and voted to cancel the banquet,” said Askew. “Our regular meeting to review how the show went this year, consider rule changes, and elect officers  is on hold.”

There are 12 directors and officers, meaning that even if no one else attended the public meeting, it would still be over the “no more than 10-person” limit currently in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Even though our by-laws say the meeting should take place by April 15, the meeting is on hold until we can manage to meet legally,” said Askew. 

The board president reminded donors that their pledges need to be honored. 

“I know it’s difficult for some that have been laid off, but we need those pledges to come in,” he said. “A lot of small pledges can quickly add up to a big amount.”

Treasurer Molly Cauble reported that almost $17,000 is outstanding.

“We will need to get this money in before I can cut the checks to the kids,” said Cauble. “As always, if their parents or other family members have not paid pledges, add-ons, and concession stand charges, the kids will not get their check.”

Askew said the board prefers to hand the sale checks directly to each exhibitor, but if that is not an option this year, they may have to mail the checks.

“We will deliver that money some way,” he said. “We want to get these kids paid, and we want to get awards to the scholarship and Top Hand winners.”

Scholarship applications are due tomorrow.

Exhibitors are expected to finish writing their thank you notes and cleaning their pens by Friday, April 3.

“Exhibitors need to write their thank you notes, place each in a stamped, addressed envelope ready to mail, and turn them in to me,” said Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard. “The deadline for writing the thank you notes is Friday, April 3. All Watt R. Matthews Scholarship applications must also be turned in to me by April 3.”

Beard reminded sellers that they will not be issued a check unless they have turned in their thank you notes and have paid any debts owed to the show, the concession stand, or the FFA or 4-H chapters.

“If you fed animals at the FFA barn this year, you will need to clean your pens before Friday, April 10, or a $25 per pen cleaning fee will be deducted from your stock show check,” Beard said. “Clean means removing all trash and feeding equipment from the pens, then filling holes and raking the pen as level as possible.”