Students Prepare for Houston County Fair and Livestock Show
By Cody Thompson
Messenger Reporter
CROCKETT – With spring in full bloom it is almost time for the annual Houston County Fair and Youth Livestock Show.
As always, this year’s fair and livestock show will be held at the Porth Ag Arena, located at 1100 Edminson Dr. in Crockett.
Set-up for the fair grounds will begin at 5 p.m. on Monday, April 3, and will continue until completion.
“We like to get the students involved in the set-up process because it gives them more of a feeling of responsibility for the show,” Houston County Extension Office head of family and consumer sciences Mindy Patrick said.
Students from all across Houston County have been preparing their animals since (month) for a chance at winning grand prize at the livestock show.
Schools with students participating in the fair and livestock show include Crockett, Lovelady, Latexo, Grapeland and Kennard.
“We’ve been working hard to get the kids’ animals and any projects they have ready for the fair,” Latexo High School ag teacher Larry Langford said.
Latexo High School senior Kursten Catoe, who has been showing animals at the livestock show for the past four years, has implemented a creative training regimen to help get her lamb ready for this year’s show.
“I put cinder blocks on the ground and have my lamb put its front legs up on them,” Catoe said. “This helps build the muscles in (the lamb’s) back legs and haunch.”
Kennard High School senior Nick Dodson has been showing hogs at the fair for three years is working hard to get this year’s hog up to the minimum weight of 220 lbs.
“I was worried (my hog) was getting sick or I started her protein diet too soon because she wasn’t putting on weight,” Dodson said. “I’ve been walking and feeding it regularly to try to put the weight back on.”
Lovelady High School sophomore Hannah Barnett has high hopes for her chickens and rabbits that she is showing in the livestock show this year.
“I really hope to make the premium sale this year,” Barnett said. “My rabbits didn’t even make the sale last year, but I hope I can make premium with both (chicken and rabbits) this year.”
Grapeland High School sophomore Amy Crook has shown a variety of animals over her seven years as a participant in the livestock show. This year she has chosen to show chickens.
“The hardest part about raising chickens is probably getting them to cooperate with you,” Crook said. “You can train most of the other animals to do what you want them to, but chickens kind of have a mind of their own.”
Animal check-ins start at 6 p.m. on April 4 and continue through April 7 at the Crockett Civic Center.
Students also have the opportunity to enter projects into the home & garden and shop categories.
“Alot of the schools have really outdone themselves with the project turnout this year,” Patrick said. “We’ve had a significant increases in the photography and elementary art categories.”
Several Kennard High School seniors built a tilt trailer that they are entering in this year’s fair.
“(The trailer) won a blue ribbon at the Houston Livestock Show,” Kennard High School senior Chris Dias said, “so I’m hoping it will do as well at the Houston County show.”
The livestock auction begins with the premium sale particiants at 5:30 p.m., followed by the champions sale at 6 p.m. on April 7.
The fair grounds clean-up begins at 9 a.m. on April 8 and continues until completion. All students who participate in the fair and livestock show are required to attend the clean-up.
For a full list of check-in dates and times, as well as a full schedule of the fair and livestock show, visit www.houston.agrilife.org/houston-county-fair-and-youth-livestock-show or call 936-546-2265.
Cody Thompson may be reached via e-mail at [email protected].
