The Woodward News

Local News

March 8, 2013

79th Woodward District Livestock Show starts Saturday

Chris Cooper Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Woodward's 79th annual District 4-H and FFA Junior District Livestock opens on Saturday and runs through March 14.

"We've been doing it for a few years now," said show co-chair Bill Fanning.

Fanning said bars at the Woodward County Fairgrounds will initially open for swine and tack Friday in the evening, but things will really get cranked up on Saturday

"We've got a total of 949 exhibitors entered, who've entered 1,481 animals, so this is one reason we needed the fairgrounds expanded. We'll be packed full," Fanning said.

Fanning said exhibitors will come from 10 counties in western Oklahoma and the Panhandle.

"Next week you'll see people from Alva all the way to Boise City and Guymon," Fanning said.

A meat judging contest at Ray's Meat Market is the first event on Saturday, starting at 9 a.m.

The first show event is gilts at 2 p.m. on Saturday.  Fanning said there are 219 exhibitors entered in the gilt show.

Then the massive barrow show is Sunday starting at 9 a.m., with 521 entries.

 "That'll take most the day, we'll have a big packed house that day between the kids and pigs," Fanning said.

Judges for the show are from Illinois, Texas and Oklahoma.

"We try to get judges that aren't familiar with the kids that much, that way we know they're truly judging the animal, not the student," Fanning said.

Fanning also said livestock show officials plan on handing out several scholarships this year to high school seniors showing animals.

"We had twenty one scholarship applications this year, we'll try to give out 7 or 8," he said.

Scholarships in the past have typically been around $750 depending on the money brought in during the show.

The big finale, Fanning said, is the premium auction and dinner on Thursday.

"We have a dinner for donors at 5:30 p.m. during the premium auction," Fanning said. "Last year our premium auction raised $242,280, and that's huge. That money went to 98 students last year.

"Only the top animals out of each category get to come back for the premium auction, so its pretty elite to make the cut. The money raised during the auction goes back to students themselves and a lot use it for feed bills and as scholarship funds."

Fanning said premium auction was quite the event.

"We raised more money than Enid's last year, and they have a bigger show," he said.

Fanning said the show always brings a lot of people to Woodward for the week.

"The fairgrounds will be packed. We expect to fill up the restaurants, shops, and hotels as well. I'd also like to take the opportunity to thank all businesses in Woodward, people always enjoy coming and staying and shopping in Woodward. They love coming back, and we enjoy hosting them," Fanning said.

Here is the complete schedule for the district livestock show.

Saturday, March 9

9 a.m. - Meat judging contest, Ray's Meat Market

2 p.m. - Gilt show begins judged by Seth Swenson, Newark, Ill.

Sunday, March 10

9 a.m. - Barrow show judged by Swenson

Monday, March 11

9 a.m. - Goat show, does followed by wethers, judged by Josh Cody, Bertram, Texas

Tuesday, March 12

9 a.m. to 11 a.m. - Lamb lead interviews

11 a.m. - Lamb lead ring portion.

Noon - Lamb show, ewes followed by wethers, judged by Billy Zanolini, Madisonville, Texas

Wednesday, March 13

9 a.m. - Heifer show, judged by Bryan Kennedy, Hennessey

2 p.m. - Steer show, judged by Bryan Kennedy, Hennessey

Thursday, March 14

4:30 p.m. - Premium auction exhibitors meeting

5:30 p.m.- Premium auction dinner

6:30 p.m. - Premium auction

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