Show barn workday set Saturday
With the fall stock show season already underway, Shackelford County 4-H, Albany FFA, and Moran FFA students have a workday scheduled this Saturday, Sept. 8, starting at 8:00 a.m. to prepare the local show barn for upcoming events.
The Shackelford County Youth and Livestock show barn, located at 8470 US Highway 283 North, just outside of the Albany city limits, needs to be ready to welcome visitors and over 100 show pigs prospects at the first local event of the year next weekend.
“All 4-H and FFA students are asked to help out with this workday,” said county agent Michaela Bradford. “If we have a good volunteer turnout, we should be able to get the barn clean and ready to go very quickly. If you have a shovel, rake, or broom, please bring it with you!”
Pig Sale
The 32st Annual First Impressions Invitational Pig Sale will be held at the show barn the following weekend, Sept. 15-16, and serves as a major fundraiser for the county livestock show.
“We raised a little over $3,000 last year,” said pig sale representative Mike Parsons. “All of the proceeds that remain after the expenses are covered go toward putting on the show and toward capital improvements.”
A preview of all entries will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 15.
“Barbecue sandwiches and sausage wraps will be available for those that come out to the preview on Saturday,” said Parsons. “Jon Cooper will return as the auctioneer, and we will have a new judge for the show. We are looking forward to the show and sale.”
Selection of the grand and reserve champions is scheduled to take place starting at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 16.
Sponsors for prize money and show ribbons are Lindner Feed and EZ Feed & Supply.
The grand champion barrow will win $1,000, and $500 will go to the reserve grand champion barrow. Prize money for the grand and reserve grand champion gilt is $800 and $350 respectively.
“The sponsors contribute $2,500 in prize money and ribbons, which is critical in attracting the best breeders and ultimately raising the most money for all participants of the Shackelford County Livestock Show,” said Parsons.
The sale of the pigs will begin at 1:00 p.m.
Consignors
The 2018 sale has 19 consignors listed in the flyer.
“We have expanded the sale to include four more consignors this year, although we do limit the total number of pigs in the sale, to keep it fairly low,” Parsons said. “We ended up with 110 head last year. This year we are expecting 125 animals.”
Local consignor is EZ Farms & Ibex Genetics from Albany.
Consignors from across the state of Texas include The Stud from Montgomery, Power Point Show Pigs from Stephenville, Four C Show Pigs from Colorado City, RW Genetics from Anderson, Draper Show Pigs from Eastland, and Rains Livestock from Roscoe.
Indiana-based consignors of pigs in the sale include Kilmer Swine Farm from Monticello, Scher Show Pigs from Huntington, Lahrs Show Pigs, also from Huntington, Travis Platt Show Pigs from Roanoke, and Lamle Livestock from Columbia City.
Pigs are coming from Atkinson, Illinois consignor Causemaker Family Farms.
Consignors from Iowa include Eggers Swine Farm from State Center, Brinning Genetics from Keota, Olson Farms from Newhall, Marek Land & Cattle from Riverside, Polich Show Pigs from Woodward, and Lewis Genetics from Center Point.
Major show winners that were purchased at First Impressions Pig Sale last year included the grand champion barrow at Houston, and the reserve grand champion barrow at San Antonio. The consignors of both of those pigs are returning with prospects again this year.
For more information on the sale, contact Parsons at 325-762-4018, Jearl Boyett at 254-433-3209, or Molly Cauble at 325-762-2366 ext. 101.
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