Stock show assn. meeting on hold

By Kathy Thomson

Members of the Shackelford County Youth and Livestock Association are hoping to meet sometime before April 15 for a general meeting to evaluate the 2020 show, consider any proposed rule changes, and address any concerns that have been brought to the attention of the Association, but like many activities, it is currently on hold due to coronavirus concerns.

“We are in limbo,” said association president Bronco Askew. “According to our by-laws, we are supposed to have the meeting by April 15, but we may have to change it this year. We are waiting to hear (when and where it would be safe to meet).”

The meeting is typically held in the high school agriculture building.

“If they have the school closed, we may need to have the meeting in the Courthouse if it is available, or at the show barn where we could keep a safe distance in an outdoor setting,” Askew said. “The meeting needs to be open to the general public, so we don’t know how many people might show up, although it’s never been a large number. And at this time, we don’t know if the Buyer-Seller Banquet will be able to take place.”

The Buyer-Seller Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, April 11, at the elementary school cafeteria, but that may need to be changed or cancelled due to the current pandemic.

“We do know that the kids will get their money!” Askew said. “We will deliver that money some way. We prefer to hand it directly to the kids, but we might need to have the ag teachers hand them out, or maybe even send them through the mail this year.”

Askew added that the exhibitors are not paid for their animals the day of the sale because add-on bids need to be paid to the association, so they have all the funds needed to cover the checks.

“We still have several that need to send in their pledges,” said SCYLA treasurer Molly Cauble.

Askew said that the directors are still trying to figure out when and where to have the annual meeting because the rules and recommendations on public gatherings seem to be changing day by day.

“We’ve had a successful year, and we are hoping to end it, and begin the next year the same way,” Askew said. “When we do meet, we know we also have a Top Hand Award and scholarships to determine.”