County junior livestock show opens Wednesday

January 8, 2013

Call it, “Everything You Wanted to Know About Farm Animals (But Was Afraid to Ask).”

Hundreds of area youngsters will display their work when the Howard County Junior Livestock Show debuts Wednesday at the Howard County Fair Barns.

This is the final year the livestock show will be held at the fair barns — in 2013, it will shift to the newly constructed agriculture pavilion on the Howard College campus.

The annual event begins with weigh-ins for lambs and goats Wednesday morning. Judging of lambs will begin at 3 p.m., with the goat show following immediately afterward.

On Thursday, rabbits take center stage at 6:30 p.m. The long-eared critters may be considered more of a pest than farm animal to many, but officials say it is the perfect “starter kit” of sorts for those learning how to raise and care for show animals.

The “big boys” of the livestock show circuit — steers and barrows — will be judged Friday. The steer show will be held at 9 a.m., followed by barrows at 1 p.m.

The show concludes Saturday with the buyers' barbecue lunch at noon, followed by the premium sale at 1:30 p.m.

Show officials said they are in need of volunteers to man the concession booth. For more information, contact the county extension agent's office at 264-2236.