Sale down from past years but quality rises
By JIMMY GALVAN Managing Editor

Newsboy photo/Jimmy Galvan A JASPER COUNTY contestant cuddles his chicken entry during last Friday's Jr. Livestock Show.

Even though the financial rewards may be been down from years past, the lessons learned were well worth it, according to Jasper County Agricultural Extension Agent Ricky Thompson.

The "numbers" Thompson is referring to is the total amount brought in from the Jasper County Jr. Livestock Foundation's Show and Sale Saturday.

"The sale was down from years past," Thompson said. "Our interest as far as exhibitors was up this year and it was a good year for the kids. We just didn't have the number of buyers in the barn as we have had in the past."

Thompson said he doesn't know if Saturday's rainy weather impacted the show.

"That was disappointing for some of the kids but we did manage to get all the animals bought who did make the sale," Thompson said. "We don't do this for the money but the educational purposes for the kids.

"We don't want to paint a negative picture as far as the money is concerned because we are grateful for the buyers who did turn out for the sale," Thompson said. "We can't do this without them."

Thompson said he was pleased with the quality of the show.

"We had probably one of the better quality shows that we have had in a long time," Thompson said. "All of the categories were very competitive. There was no runaway for any division as the quality went deep in all the classes."

"The sale went real well for us," said Jasper High School FFA Advisor Liz Holster. "Most of our animals made sale. I was very pleased with how the kids did."

"The show went real well, it was an excellent show," echoed Kirbyville High School FFA sponsor Jody Folk. "It was the best set of animals that I have seen in the 17 years that I have been here. It was a pretty tough show all the way around."

Folk recorded two grand champions in the broiler and rabbit divisions.

"We have had real good shows in the past but the quality of animals that came through there were tremendous," Folk said. "It was a tough show to win and a tough show to judge."

Folk said the quality of the animals reflects back on the care the Jasper County participants took with their animals.

"It shows that they have good feeding programs and they are doing a good job raising their animals," Folk said. "It also shows they are buying quality animals to start with and doing a good job of raising them as well."

"It's always good when the quantity of animals goes up but when the quality goes up with them - then it makes you really proud," Thompson said.

Folk points to the leadership qualities that are learned by FFA and 4-H members across the county as one of the bigger lessons learned throughout the year.

"It teaches them not only responsibility but ethics that are developed through the program are really important in the world today," Folk said. "And ethics also come from home as well. But this program helps develop them as well."

While for some, the Saturday sale was the culmination of the year but for others the work for next year's sale started on Sunday morning.

"Those who are showing steers might already have their animals for next year at their house," Folk said. "It continues - it just goes on as a revolving process."