Saturday's Winter Warm-Up Show
Attracted Youth to Civic Center

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

 

Colton Price, a member of the Hopkins County 4-H, exhibits his market hog in Saturday's
competition.

 

It was youth from all across Northeast Texas that crowded into the confines of the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, attracted by one of the first shows that they could take their animals to exhibit, for the new year, and because of the frigid temperatures outside. The show sponsored by the Hopkins County 4-H County Council saw youth from as far away as Paris, Ennis, Honey Grove, and Rockwall, make the trip here.

 

Kindle Ketching, of Howe, Texas, shows her Hereford steer, that won Grand Champion honors
at Saturday's show.

 

 

 

"It was a great, great turn-out and we could have even expected almost twice that number if the weather hadn't been so cold," advised Hopkins County 4-H  Agent, Juli Hutchins. "But, we're extremely pleased with the great showing and hopefully by next year, it won't be quite so cold!"

 

This market goat, having been shorn for Saturday's show, was like many of the exhibitors and
spectators, he needed a little bit of warmth from a blanket and jacket, at Saturday's show.

 

 

 

With temperatures "in the teens" on Saturday morning, youth were quickly unloading their animals and getting them into the warmth of the Civic Center as quickly as possible, but they were bringing breeding beef heifers, market steers, lambs, goats, and swine to be shown. Additionally, the Hopkins County Dairy Classic heifers were all on-hand to have their official "tag-in" at the show, for exhibition at the Dairy Show.

 

Lorenzo Rivera, a North Hopkins FFA member, exhibits his market steer at Saturday's
show, in preparation for the upcoming Hopkins Co. NETLA Show.

 

"It was a great turn-out and some really stiff competition, for the prizes," advised Eddie Lampp, President of the NETLA Organization, who helped with the show. "There were some great prizes for the winners and it gave many of our local youth the opportunity to bring their animals to the show, see how they are progressing with fitting, grooming, and rate per day of gain, in preparation for the upcoming NETLA Show, scheduled for the later part of February. This was a great time for some of these youth to gain some experience showing, that they couldn't have gotten anywhere else!"

 

And, this Miller Grove FFA member is shown exhibiting his
market swine project, on Saturday.

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