Texas County Jr. Livestock Show Puts Another One Down In History Books

March 6, 2013

Kaly Grunewald, Goodwell, Okla., 4-H, leads her third place Chi in to the sale ring Feb. 28 during the Texas County Junior Livestock Show auction. The auction had to be postponed from its original date of Feb. 21 due to the storms that moved into the area. Herald Staff Photo/Nancy Kletecka

The 2013 Texas County Junior Livestock Show began Feb. 19; however, its roots run much deeper than that.
“This event has been going on for a very long time,” said Mike Berry, Texas County Jr. Livestock Show treasurer. “Even when I was a kid it was going on, so it’s been well over 50 years. I showed animals when I was a kid and I’m 67 now.”
The show hosted activities Feb. 19-21 and it was to have culminated with the annual auction the night of Feb. 21. However, Mother Nature had other plans.
“Due to the storm, we postponed the sale until Feb. 28,” Berry explained, “because we didn’t want the kids or anybody else on the highway that night.”
Berry said he and the other Livestock Show board appreciate those who understood and hung in there with them.
“We appreciate everyone,” he said. “We appreciate those who came back for the meal and the sale. We had to put it off due to the storm, but those are decisions you have to make in a very short time. But even so, we had a pretty good crowd under the circumstances.”
The auction and show wasn’t as good as they would have liked, but it was still good, according to Berry.
“I think we had better quality of animals this year,” he said. “We were down a little in numbers and exhibitors, but the quality was good.”
Berry attributed part of the decrease to the economy.
“We sell 100 lots at this sale,” he said. “And it was down as far as how much the animals brought. I really think it is the times and due to the state of the economy.”
Berry says the outcome of the sale is vital.
“The kids need the money they get from the auction,” he said. “It is money to help them go to college and to pay for the expenses of raising these animals.”
Berry said in spite of the lower amount of revenue gleaned this years, it was a good show and the reason for the show is as important as ever.
“Ag is the backbone of this area,” he said. “This show teaches leadership and responsibility. It is a good teaching aide for the kids. There is so much more to FFA and 4-H than just showing animals - that is not all there is.”
Berry said the youth involved in 4-H and FFA learn a multitude of things that will help them down the road.
“They learn how to conduct meetings, to judge, how to be around other people and get along with other people,” he explained.”
Berry said he refers to the 4-H youth as the “younger group of FFA kids”.
“Most of them will go on to be involved in FFA,” he said.
Things have evolved for both organizations over the years, something Berry has witnessed firsthand with his continued involvement.
“When I was in FFA in the 60s - I graduated high school in 1964 - there wasn’t many girls involved in these organizations,” Berry said. “Now you see lots of girls not only as members, but also serving as officers - clear on up to being state officers.”
Berry said for the kids, getting ready for the show begins as soon as it ends.
“There are kids who will start in April or the last of March,” he said. “Some will go from here to district and then on to state. Once that is finished, they start looking for their animals for the next year. It is a year-round project.”
Those participating must have the animals for a certain time to even qualify in the categories.
“Kids have to own their cattle for at least 120 days prior to the show,” Berry said. “And I think it is 90 days prior to the show that they have to have owned their hogs, sheep and goats.”
Berry himself began working in November to sell belt buckle sponsors.
“We give away buckles to the grand and reserve in each of the species and for the judging,” he said.
During the show, the kids and their parents many times are there for all three days from early in the morning until late at night.
“The night before a show, many are there until midnight at least getting ready for the next morning,” Berry said.
Others also put in their time.
There are 18 people who serve on the Junior Livestock Show Board and of course there are the teachers.
“There are four ag teachers (Guymon, Hooker, Hardesty, and Texhoma) - they work with us to put on the show,” Berry said. “We could not do it without them. We all have to work together.”
The board is particularly proud of one of their many accomplishments for the show.
“We bought new pens for the sale and they really look nice,” Berry said. “They didn’t come in until the Monday before the show started. They looked nice and we are very proud of them.”
Berry and the other board members take the event to heart.
“We work hard to make it a good event,” he said. “I think Ernest Herald (of Hooker) is probably our oldest member on the board. He has been there ever since I have at least and he has a lot of ‘know’ about him. He wants to see every kid get paid. And you can’t get very many things past Ernest - he is a good guy.”
Berry himself is proof of how dedicated board members are to the youth through this event, having served 18 years in one position alone and “another 10 before that,” he said.
And the reason why they continue to do it is simple - agriculture.
“Some how we have to feed the people and that’s what it’s all about,” he said.