NETLA Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show 2022 Ag Mechanics Contest

The weeklong Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show and Sale conducted by Northeast Texas Livestock Association kicked off Tuesday afternoon with the annual Ag Mechanics Show.

Students from all seven Hopkins County school districts built and brought projects, which ranged from students first ever attempts to commissioned projects and those that have already received awards this year at other contests. Some projects took hours, others took weeks and months to complete.

Union Grove ISD agriculture instructor Josh Shafer judged the entries, submitted Feb. 22, 2022 in nine different classes. Ribbons were awarded to top ranked entries in each class. Banners were awarded to the Grand Champion, Reserved Grand Champion and Showmanship award winners, who will get to take home belt buckles denoting the achievement awarded during the sale of champions.

Shafer said with no prior knowledge of any of the school programs or projects, but was very impressed with the Hopkins County students’ projects. He said while not all were top to bottom a first place entry, there were a lot of close decisions, indicative of the time, effort, care the students put into the quality projects.

In addition to winning the first place ribbon in Class 8, North Hopkins students won the Grand Champion award with their 28-foot gooseneck lowboy trailer. Built and shown by Roan Adair and Cory Long, the heavy duty trailer was customized to be used by the school as their project trailer, with school logos and initials on the front and back ramps. The project was a challenge, making adjustments as needed, and the welding. The trailer can be used not only to haul things for the school, but is designed so the front can house a workstation and so a pike won’t stick out too far behind or from the side of the trailer.

The Reserve Grand Champion award for the NETLA Ag Mechanics Show was project 3, a 14-foot utility trailer built by Como-Pickton students. The trailer earned a blue ribbon for placing first in Class 3.

The overall Showmanship award went to Cash Vititow, a Sulphur Springs student.

Ribbons were awarded for first-fourth in each Class, provided there were enough projects to award multiple places. by place, school and project:

Class 1 – Gates

1. North Hopkins, 16-foot cattle guard
2. Como-Pickton, 14-foot farm gate
3. Miller Grove , 18-foot entry gate
4. Sulphur Bluff, cattle guard

Class 2 – Other Trailers

1. Como-Pickton, stock trailer
2. Como-Pickton, dump trailer
3. Miller Grove, 5×10 welding trailer

Class 3 – Utility/BP Trailers

1. Como-Pickton, 14-foot utility trailer
2. Sulphur Springs, 16-foot bumper pull trailer
3. Miller Grove, 18-foot bumper pull trailer

Class 4 – Farm Equipment/Implements

1. Como-Pickton Grapple
2. Cumby, Skeleton Bucket
3. Cumby, Log Splitter
4. Como-Pickton, Gravel Spreader (gray)

Class 5 – Other Yard Conveniences

1. Como-Pickton, Swing Stand & Swing
2. Sulphur Springs, Picnic Table #3 (black)
3. Como-Pickton, Entryway Bench
4. Sulphur Springs, Picnic Table #2 (copper)

Class 6 – Grills/Fire Pits

1. Sulphur Springs, Fire Pit
2. Como-Pickton, Santa Maria Grill
3. Como-Pickton, Jeep Firepit
4. Como-Pickton, Texas Firepit

Class 7- Livestock Feeders

1. Miller Grove, 8-Foot Cattle Feeder
2. Saltillo, Feeder

Class 8 – Large Gooseneck Trailers

1. North Hopkins, 28-Foot Gooseneck Lowboy Trailer
2. Sulphur Bluff, Gooseneck Trailer (red)
3. Sulphur Springs, 24-foot Gooseneck Lowboy Trailer

Class 9 – Miscellaneous Equipment

1. Sulphur Bluff, Bumper
2. Sulphur Springs, Welding Skid

The Hopkins County Junior Market Livestock Show resumed Thursday with the lamb and goat contests, and is scheduled to continue at 8 a.m. Friday with the broilers contest, followed by the swine project show around noon, steer competition around 3 p.m. at heifer show at approximatley 6 p.m. Feb. 25, 2022. The NETLA Stew and Chili Lunch will be served at noon Saturday and the Sale of Champions is slated to get under way at 1 p.m.

Stay tuned to KSST 1230 AM and check this website (KSSTradio.com) for additional photos from the show as well as information on the winners and sale.