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March 6, 2010

Hard work comes to a close

Junior Live Stock show ends with Sale

Matt Tillson

DUNCAN — With the chatter of the auctioneer being heard and the smell of livestock filling the air, it was official, the annual Junior Livestock Show for Stephens County was coming to a close.

People filled the stands at the Stephens County Fair and Expo Center Friday evening to watch as Grand Champion winners and Reserve Champion winners showed their live stock for the final time during this show.

Members of the the Stephens County schools’ FFA Teams and 4-H clubs stood with anticipation waiting and getting their live stock prepared for the 72nd Annual Premium Sale.

For the Premium Sale booster, clubs and students raise money from fundraisers and businesses who are willing to donate for each of their students that are showing. It is basically a walk through for the students to go through when they go on to the bigger shows in Oklahoma City, Tulsa or events of that nature. The students do not sell their live stock at these shows, but might sell them in the bigger shows later on. Though money is raised, some schools get additional money raised from members of the audience who would like to donate to the schools of their choosing. Total amounts raised are not known until weeks later.

Duncan FFA Secretary Kenna Pemberton said that over all Duncan did very well in the show this year.

“We had one Grand Champion, two Reserve Grand Champions, two Breed Champions and four Reserve Breed Champions,” Pemberton said.

Duncan FFA Advisor Cory Jarboe echoed Pemberton’s words and said that he was proud of his kids for how they did this year.

“We had 14 kids showing this year and nine of them made it to the market sale,” Jarboe said. “ Some of the schools had twice as many kids showing that we did, so I am proud of them for how they did this week.”

Comanche student Andrew Aldridge put two sheep and his first place Chester Barrow up for the sale. He sold all three, but since students could only sell one animal, he took the sale on his Barrow, which brought the most money.

“It’s one of the best feelings to make the sale,” Aldridge said. “It makes all the long, hard work worth it in the end.”

Aldridge ended up selling his Barrow for over $500, much more than he had originally anticipated, which only added to his excitement of making his sale. He was also happy for his fellow Comanche FFA students did well in the sale as well.

“This was the first time that everyone from Comanche made sale at this show,” Aldridge said. “That was great for us.”

Empire schools had 17 of their 34 students make the market sale this year. FFA officer Kevin Bilbrey said that he believed that the Empire students did really well this year.

“We had two Reserve Grand Champion Steers this year,” Bilbrey said. “They may not have made Grand Champion but they still did really well we also had other kids who finished really well this year as well. It was just a really good year for us.”



— Kevin Kerr contributed information to this story.

—Matt Tillson is a reporter for the Duncan Banner. He can be reached at 580-255-5354 Ext. 142 or via e-mail at matt.tillson@duncanbanner.com.

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