Stock show deadlines set

By Sandy Morris

Local FFA and 4-H members are already hard at work preparing for the upcoming stock show season.

Members have a number of upcoming events and due dates in the next several weeks, as well as fundraisers and dues to pay.

FFA Fundraisers

Members of the Albany FFA completed their first fundraiser selling a total of 373 items, according to Chris Beard, Albany ag science instructor. Beard said the goal is to sell 1,000 items and the next sale due date is Friday, Nov. 13. 

The Christmas order is the FFA’s last sale of the year and will include meat, fruit, cookies, and other items. 

Items will be delivered before Christmas and can be paid for on delivery. 

To purchase items from the fundraiser, contact any FFA member or Beard.

Pig Tag Order

Any FFA member planning to show a male pig at the county show or take a male or female pig to a major show will need a pig tag. The last day to order a pig tag is Friday, Nov. 6 at a cost of $18. 

Validations

FFA will validate all swine projects Nov. 18-19 at the ag farm and Nov. 22-24 at individual homes and farms. 

Shackelford County Extension Agent and 4-H coordinator Kloey Painter said 4-H will be validating pigs throughout November with the last day to validate on Nov. 22. 

She added that 4-H rabbit validation will be done in the middle of December, with dates to be announced later. 

Quality Counts

All FFA members should be working on their Quality Counts program, according to Beard.

“This is a long, slow process, so don’t wait until the last minute to complete this program,” said Beard. 

“All participants who plan to show at major shows will have to complete the Quality Counts to receive a number,” added Beard. 

Stock Shows

Beard stated that students are currently registering for the county show, but several major shows have also opened for entries. 

“We will be registering for San Angelo, San Antonio, Star of Texas, and the Texas National Show, a new pig show in Wichita Falls,” said Beard. 

“Houston will open Dec. 1 but Fort Worth has cancelled their show this year because of COVID,” Beard added. 

Stock shows will be run differently this year because of COVID and specific details will be released as show dates approach, Beard said. 

FFA Dues

FFA Dues were due by Oct. 23 and are now past due. Dues are $10 and each student will receive a free Albany FFA t-shirt. The FFA t-shirts are also available to the public for $10 each.