A stock show open to any 4-H and FFA student in Pottawatomie County is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Bethel Ag Boosters Barn beginning at 8 a.m.
Sarah Weeks, coordinator for the show, said the barn is located just west of the Shawnee Milling Co. Feed Center on Hardesty Road. She said her husband Jeff is among the volunteers.
She said the hog show begins at 8 a.m. and everything else is after that, including sheep, goats and beef cattle.
Weeks said, “We have a group of parents of FFA and 4-H students, mainly 4-H students, that go to shows together and the idea to hold this show grew out of that.”
The show is called, “The Pottawatomie County Pasture Classic,” and students and their parents can go to Facebook and find that page to enter. “They may also contact their 4-H leaders and FFA advisors, they have forms as well,” Weeks noted.
She emphasized, “Hopefully, this is the only one we have and that the County Fair will be back next year.” She said this event is trying to help fill that gap.
“There’s lots of kids in Pottawatomie County who don’t have the opportunity to just pick up and go show whenever they want to,” Weeks added.
“This is open to only FFA and 4-H students in Pottawatomie County. A lot of the volunteers are from Ag Booster Clubs or just parents of other kids who are showing,” she said.
“The entry fee is $10 per animal and all that will go directly back to the kids,” Weeks assured those interested in participating.
“The only way we can do that is due to some fantastic local sponsors,” she related. She pointed out, “Students can enter up to
Sept. 11 and it’s only $10 an animal. If the student enters the day of the show, it’s $15 an animal.”
Most of the animals are shown by weight. They will be shown outside under a large tent and they will be brought into the show ring from their trailers.
“That’s due to COVID-19 and there’s just not a whole lot of space out there,” Weeks commented. EVRO
“It’s pretty exciting,” Weeks remarked, adding “I’ve even had people call me and ask to sponsor that I hadn’t asked. Those who I did ask were excited about it and willing to be a sponsor.
“We are doing showmanship in all the species and we anticipate being there a great part of the day,” she said.
Sponsors for the show include N&R Feed, Friends of Pott County 4-H and FFA, OK Ag Credit, Showrite, Shawnee Feed Center, OK Independent Stock Growers, Bethel Ag Boosters, P&K Equipment and Pott County Farm Bureau.