Fundraising gets underway for show barn improvements

By Donnie A. Lucas

The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association (SCYLA) announced a major fundraising effort last week of $160,000 to $200,000 to make what they term as long overdue improvements to the 50-year-old County Show Barn.

A group of board members made the announcement at a county commissioners’ meeting on April 24, seeking a financial commitment of $20,000 from the county.

One of the major items on the project list is pouring concrete for most of the aisles, alleyways, and pen areas to cut down on the dust that affects both animals and the exhibitors, according to Mike Parsons, who is heading up the fundraising drive.

While some of the more recently built pens for pigs, sheep, and goats will be saved, the plan calls for replacing many of the older ones that are decades old.

“We need to have quality pens for all the animals, ones that will last the next 40 or 50 years and be safe for the animals and the kids to use,” Parsons said.

The new pens will be located according to a new, more efficient layout of the barn that will be established when the concrete is poured.

“We are also planning to extend the cattle barn addition that was built several years ago to square it up with the rest of the facility,” Parsons said. “That will provide room to expand to meet the growing needs for the local show and any other livestock event such as pig sales.”

Parsons and other members of the association host an annual pig show and sale at the county barn each September, bringing in breeders from across Texas and the midwest benefitting the local association.

Parsons, who has been on the board for over 40 years, said the show barn was first built in 1972, housing 30 or so projects. That number has grown to over 150 projects each year.

While the facility is owned by the county, the original barn and most improvements over the years have been funded through private donations.

The steer barn and wash rack were added in 2005 with $75,000 in donations, followed by new restrooms in 2013 made possible through a foundation donation. The association has also funded major electrical rewiring and updated the office area.

“We are busting at the seams, and there are improvements that are needed because of safety concerns,” Parsons said. “We are going to be careful to spend all donations wisely.”

Association president Bronco Askew said that pouring concrete will help solve the major dust problems encountered when a show or event is held at the facility.

“The dust has been a major problem, and there are leaks in the metal roofing that need to be fixed,” he said. “It is time to address those problems and get the place up to snuff.  This will help everyone out there – the kids, the visitors and the animals – and make it much safer.”

Parsons said that he has contacted several foundations, even though the timing is in the middle of many contribution cycles.

“We are looking for commitments now, even if we have to wait to receive the actual funds,” he said. “We can borrow some of the money to have the work done and pay it off next year if we get commitments.”

He added that he hopes local citizens will help with donations without shorting the money that will be needed next January to run the show and pay out to the exhibitors.

“We need everyone’s help no matter how small the donation,” Parsons said.

Improvements are also being included for the concession stand, photo and publicity area, and parking.

“This is an investment in our future, and we hope people will help us any way they can,” he said.

Donations can be sent to SCYLA, PO Box 2439, Albany TX 76430. Designate the funds as “Show Barn 2023 Improvement Project” on the memo line.