Northeast Texas Livestock Association (NETLA) and area youth are gearing up for the 2022 Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show, which kicks off Feb. 22 at Hopkins County Civic Center. The four-day event showcases livestock projects grown and agriculture mechanics projects constructed by Hopkins County FFA and 4-H members.
The top rated projects from the livestock contest and show are auctioned, with 100-200 businesses, industries and financial institutions, families and individuals contributing toward the sale of champions, either as buyers or add-on donors, as well as serving as donors who help cover the cost of the Northeast Texas Junior Livestock Association event.
Among the homegrown livestock entered will be lambs and goats, broilers, swine, steers and heifers. Typically, the sale of champions includes 125-145 sale lots, a chance for community members to purchase livestock projects, with the exception of heifers. All are rated, with showmanship, grand champion and reserve champion accolades doled out following judging in senior, intermediate and junior categories. Students who show for a number of years may also apply for scholarships. The 2021 Sale of Champions raised $475,270 with 136 lots sold.
Grand champions, in addition to receiving awards and bragging rights, also have their photos made in the arena with their project to grace the next year’s program brochure.
And, while every youth competing hopes to show the champion project in their division and livestock category (some raise and show more than one animal), they also develop skills and qualities to become good citizens and effective future leaders, including the importance of planning, dedication, conscientiousness, responsibility, time management, business experience, financial management, sometimes personal or financial sacrifices, and awareness of potential consequences for their choices and actions.
Youth are also assigned to sell a certain number of raffle tickets, with the Jackie Gibson Memorial Award going to the participating 4-H or FFA members who has the most raffle ticket sales. Students who have competed for at least two years and meet other eligibility qualifications can submit an application to compete for at least one Larry Spradlin Memorial Scholarship and one Bobby McDonald Memorial Scholarship, funded through individual donations, a portion of the entry fee and proceeds from the scholarship animals sold at on Saturday at the Sale of Champions.
Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor or add-on donor may contact any NETLA representative or stop by the add-on table at the event.
Th 2022 Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Shows begin at noon Tuesday, Feb. 22, with the Ag Mechanics competition, in the Civic Center Arena.
On Thursday, lamb and goat weights are due between 2 and 3 p.m., with the lamb showmanship and show starting at 4 p.m., with the goat showmanship and show at 4 p.m.
Things start bright and early Friday with the poultry check-in beginning at 7:30 a.m., the broiler show and showmanship at 8 a.m., swine weigh-in from 9 to 11 a.m., steer and heifer project check in at 10 a.m., noon swine showmanship and show, steer weights due from 12:30 to 1 p.m., steer showmanship and show and at 3 p.m. and heifer showmanship and show at 6 p.m.
On Saturday, the NETLA Stew and Chili Lunch will be served at noon, followed by the Sale of Champions starting at 1 p.m. Feb. 26.
All shows, as well as the showmanship, awards and Sale of Champions will be conducted in Hopkins County Civic Center Arena.
