Stock show donations expected to be on par with last year’s totals
By Sam Waller
The 2022 Shackelford Youth and Livestock Association’s county livestock show, which was dedicated to the memory of Monte Lewis, wrapped up Saturday, Jan. 22, with a premium sale for show participants.
A total of 236 animal projects were exhibited by 130 Shackelford County 4-Hers and FFA students from Albany and Moran. The numbers were very close to last year’s 240 projects and 132 exhibitors.
“We lost some volunteers, and we had some new people come in, and that’s basically how this whole thing works – with the help of our volunteers,” association president Bronco Askew said. “Our county kids receive lots of support.”
Askew added that overall, the 2022 event enjoyed a successful run.
“The whole show went great,” he said. “I think for the whole picture, everybody enjoyed it.”
Askew said the one issue the show had to deal with turned out to be a non-issue. Hogs at the high school ag barn were temporarily quarantined after one animal showed positive in a routine test for pseudorabies, but a follow-up test came back negative, clearing all animals for the show.
Monte Lewis Tribute
Lewis, an avid and active supporter of the stock show and Albany youth in general for the last few years, died Jan. 9, and his services were held Jan. 17, just three days before the show started its three-day run on Thursday, Jan. 20, at the county show barn.
“Monte Lewis was a real friend of 4-H and FFA and also the stock show association,” Albany FFA advisor Chris Beard said. “He helped out in several different ways.”
It was announced that the Monte Lewis Memorial Scholarship will be awarded this spring. Beard said he can be contacted for application forms, which must be returned by April 13 to Ann Riley at the Albany Junior/Senior High office.
Judging
For the second year in a row, Nolan County extension agent Zachary Wilcox judged all species – cattle, swine, sheep, goats, rabbits, and chickens.
Askew said it is rare to find a judge who could handle all kinds of entries.
“It’s hard to find a judge who’s as rounded as Zach,” he said. “So many judge one category, and they’re not as familiar with others, especially chickens and rabbits. He’s one of the few we’ve found that can do it all.”
Champion Animals
Kenzie Neve exhibited both the grand and reserve champion steers.
Gracie Price matched that accomplishment with the grand and reserve champion heifers.
Hattie Braly claimed junior beef showmanship honors for the second year in a row, while Price again received senior beef showmanship honors.
Callan Edgar’s medium-weight dark cross was tabbed grand champion barrow, with Cooper Edgar’s medium-weight Hampshire selected reserve champion
Colter Edgar showed the grand champion gilt, a Duroc. Carter Carrion claimed reserve champion with a light cross.
Tatum Grady earned junior swine showmanship honors. Cooper Edgar received the senior swine showmanship award.
Cole Read exhibited the grand champion market goat with Claire Bellah taking reserve champion. Both animals came out of Class 2.
Leddie Leech and Laithe Leech repeated last year’s finish in the doe goats. Leddie’s Class 3 winner took grand champion with Laithe’s Class 4 winner named reserve champion.
Rainy Nitschke earned junior goat showmanship buckle, while Cole Read claimed senior goat showmanship.
Pepper Martin won grand champion market lamb for the second year in a row, while Grace Fry exhibited the reserve champion.
Faith Fry showed the grand champion ewe, and Grace Fry picked up another reserve champion banner.
The Fry sisters also swept the lamb showmanship awards. Grace won in the junior division, and Faith topped the senior division.
Matthew Key took top honors with his grand champion market rabbit. Jonathan Key had the reserve champion.
Brooke Kayga exhibited the grand champion doe rabbit, and Braylyn Abbate’s entry was picked as reserve champion.
Kayga also had the grand champion buck rabbit. Matthew Key took reserve champion. Both entries came out of Class 14.
Hunter Sutton received junior rabbit showmanship buckle, with Allen Hebel taking senior showmanship honors.
In the poultry competition, Johnnie Hise had the grand champion pen. Carly Kreitler exhibited the reserve champion pen. Both came out of Class 4.
James Hise took junior poultry showmanship honors. Hannah Rogers claimed the senior showmanship award.
Auctions & Donations
Association secretary Molly Cauble said final numbers are weeks away from being determined, but this year’s sale appears to be at least on par with a year ago.
“I’ll get add-ons for at least a month before I have the final numbers,” Cauble said. “I try to send the kids their information by the end of February so they can mail their thank you notes.”
Cauble said the situation is normal for the show, but there will eventually be a deadline for add-on bids.
“I’ll still have people asking after that date is determined, but I have to cut it off so the kids can get their thank you notes out in order to get their checks,” she said.
Askew said donations covered much of the show’s expenses.
“Contributions were pretty good and are ongoing, with a lot of early donations,” he said. “We made verbal contact, and made sure past donors got request letters.”
Raffle Winners
Alberto Garcia won the processed hog provided by Jerry Lancaster of Deep Creek Trading Post in Moran in one of two fundraising raffles.
Corny Alexander won the 12-gauge shotgun.
Cauble said an exact total of money raised through the sale of raffle tickets has yet to be determined.
Volunteers Thanked
“I want to thank everybody for helping out, especially the officers and directors of the association,” Askew said. “They all know what their jobs are, and they just fall in at the times they need to be there. If extra help was needed, they’d just do it.”
Beard said the efforts of the association helped make the show a success.
“Everything ran pretty smooth and everybody worked together,” he said. “I thank all the volunteers and people behind the scenes who helped out a lot, the board of directors for getting ready before the show and putting it on for the kids.”
Learning Experience
Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said her first year of involvement with the show was educational.
“I was very impressed. I really commend the stock show association,” she said. “They put on a fantastic event for a county our size. Now that I’ve experienced one, I feel like I can answer a few more questions than I was able to this year.”
