Comanche County Spring Livestock Show is Under Way!

The Comanche County Spring Livestock show is underway at the Comanche County Fairgrounds, 920 S. Sheridan Road.  According to Marty New, the Comanche County Extension Director, the first Comanche county Junior Livestock show was held in the late 1930's and in 1959 the Saddle & Sirloin Club was formed to assist with the auction and it's volunteers have been crucial to the show ever since.

“It’s a group of people who care very deeply about the agriculture youth of Comanche County and put a lot of time and effort into this,” New said. “Without their assistance the show really wouldn’t be possible. They help raise all the money for the prizes and the culminating sale on Friday afternoon.”

In an effort to get more participants, the livestock judging contest has been moved to Wednesday afternoon, New said. It will be held at Cameron University’s Animal Science Arena on Southwest 38th Street. Registration will be at 3 p.m., and the contest will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fletcher cattleman Chad Gordon, the beef superintendent for the show, will be in charge of the livestock judging contest.

New said interest in the contest has been increasing since its reintroduction two years ago. Last year there were 50 entrants.

Last year the Spring Fair & Livestock Expo drew 230 exhibitors and a little over 400 head of livestock. The show is open to Comanche County 4-H and FFA members in good standing, currently enrolled in school in Comanche County other than post-secondary school, who have not reached their 19th birthday as of Jan. 1, 2011.

And, again this year, the Hardzog family will be sponsoring the Terri Hardzog Memorial Round Robin Showmanship Contest.  It will start at 9am on Friday, March 2^nd.  Participants will show one animal from each class to qualify for the showmanship contest.  It is a fun, exciting event and everyone is welcome to come out and watch!  They will be awarding $2,000 in savings bonds and each participant will receive a t-shirt.  Hoodies will be awarded to the top 4.

The bonus sale is Friday at the coliseum and businesses and individuals are encouraged to come out and “bonus” the winners for their animals.  The money these students earn from the bonus sale is applied to the cost of raising the animal and also is put into their college fund.  It’s a great way to show these kids how proud you are of the work they have accomplished.

Here is a picture of me with the Indiahoma FFA group!  What a great bunch of kids!