Last week I had the opportunity to venture out to the annual Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show at the Heart of Oklahoma Exposition Center.
It was the 84th consecutive year for the show and involves several hundred FFA and 4-H students from throughout the county.
I enjoyed visiting with some of the participants and volunteers.
Katelyn Fleming is a 16-year-old sophomore and the daughter of Shawn and Shelley Fleming. She told me she’s been showing since she was 9.
She was helping with the beef show a day after she had participated in the sheep competition on the opening day. She said she won two firsts and a third in the classes she competed in, but was most proud of winning the senior showmanship and making the Premium Sale.
Katelyn shared with me what she likes about the show saying, “I just love it and the friends I meet and the camaraderie.”
Piper Goodson is a 16-year-old sophomore and her Chianina heifer claimed the Supreme heifer title in the competition.
I actually visited with her before she won the title that day. She knew she would have a chance to compete for the top award because her heifer was breed champion.
Piper said she started out showing pigs and now is showing heifers. “I love getting into the ring and all your hard work pays off,” she thinks.
“You set up the heifer and it looks good. I love working with my heifer at home. I have three heifers, but just showed one,” she noted.
Piper said at home she has a large area to work with her heifers.
Gina Rounsaville has been volunteering at the PCJLS for many, many years, she said. She participated in the show many years ago when she was in Junior High, but didn’t show in high school.
Her son Kelby, who is now a Vo-Ag teacher at Lindsay, did participate throughout his high school career.
Gina stresses the reason she continues volunteering is, “This is our future. I keep doing it for the kids,” she added.
Shawn Fleming, Katelyn’s dad, said he started showing in about 1980. “And I’ve been helping with this show ever since,” he noted.
“I love it. I think it teaches great life lessons and without Agriculture we wouldn’t have anything,” he believes.
Bo Buckmaster, who is a volunteer with the show, informed me earlier this week the Premium Sale brought roughly $215,000 to the 110 exhibitors. The floor for the bidding was $1,000, she said, “so no exhibitor this year will receive less than $1.000. What an incredible show of support this year for our FFA and 4-H exhibitors,” she said.