Deadlines near for fall stock shows
By Lynsi Musselman
Across the state of Texas, exhibitors are getting ready for stock show season 2020.
Albany High School agriculture teacher Chris Beard said entry deadlines are coming up for all the major fall stock shows including the West Texas Fair and Rodeo in Abilene that will be Sept. 10-19, where Albany students will exhibit steers, heifers, goats, lambs, and pigs.
The junior livestock show entry deadline for Abilene is today, Aug. 13.
Students who have yet to submit an entry need to contact Shackelford County extension agent Kloey Painter, Moran FFA instructor Matthew Hise, or Beard.
The next major show is the State Fair of Texas show in Dallas Sept. 24 through Oct. 17, but will look a little different this year for exhibitors.
“Only the market animals will show in Dallas this year, which is the last stop for these animals,” Beard said.
He explained the breeder animals that normally go to Dallas will show in Waco at the United Stock Show, Oct. 8-18.
The Heart of Texas Stock Show (HOT) that traditionally is held in Waco in October will be going on at the same time as the United Show.
With COVID-19 restrictions, the State Fair of Texas and Heart of Texas decided to ‘unite’ together and form a show for the breeder portion of the State Fair of Texas show.
“Having the breeder portion going on during the HOT show gives exhibitors an opportunity to show their animals more,” Beard said.
The entry deadline for the State Fair, United Show, and HOT show is Thursday, Aug. 20.
All animals that will show at fall stock shows have tags and have been validated back in June.
“We are getting ready to order tags and validate for the winter/spring 2021 season,” Beard said.
Shackelford County students who intend to take sheep or goats to the major shows and/or to the county show need to order tags by Aug. 24 for $15 per tag, or pay a late fee of $25 per tag.
Beard explained that orders need to be turned into him, Painter, or Hise by Aug. 24 to have time to get paperwork done.
If heifers and pigs that are to be exhibited in the winter/spring 2021 season have not yet been validated, their owners need to order tags by Sept. 14.
“Heifers, lambs, and goats will be validated in October, and pigs will be validated in November,” Beard said.
Annual Pig Sale
The 34th annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale in Shackelford County has been scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 13 at the county sale barn.
The sale benefits all Shackelford County youth that exhibit at the county livestock show.
Youth interested in agriculture can join FFA if they are in a high school agriculture class, or join 4-H if they are between the ages of eight and 18.
