Local Hopkins County 4-H member Peyton Coke looks like he is half-asleep as he brushes out the
tail on his dairy project heifer, in preparation for showing on Saturday morning.

Local 4-H & FFA Youth Participate
In Saturday "Warm-up" Show At
Hopkins County Regional Civic Center

by: Bobby McDonald

While many of the area youth were "sleeping-in" on Saturday morning, a large group of the local 4-H and FFA members in Hopkins County were at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center clipping, washing, and showing their project animals in a "Warm-up" Show for the upcoming show season. Many of the youth had additionally attended a seminar on Friday night to teach them techniques in fitting and showing, that was conducted by the Extension Service.

Como-Pickton FFA members Corbin Flora, left, and Dylan Jones, right, wash their goats in preparation for the
showring, on a rather "frosty" Saturday morning, at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center.

Classes for beef heifers, dairy heifers, steers, lambs, goats, and swine were offered for the youth to participate and aided them in bringing their animals out before a crowd of spectators and participating in a show event, prior to the upcoming major shows and the Hopkins County Market Show and Sale, that will be conducted on February 23, 24, & 25, 2006.

"This event gives the local youth an opportunity to learn a little bit about what they will have to do to participate in a real show event," denoted Larry Spradlin, Hopkins County Extension Agent. "It is a good opportunity for those who have never shown before to learn, and even a learning exprience for the more seasoned exhibitors."

Kadee Melton, of North Hopkins School, blow-dries her black steer in preparation for the showring on Saturday.

And early morning haircut......Wilke Jacobs, a freshman FFA student at Como-Pickton, gives her Holstein
dairy heifer a "trim" on Saturday morning, in preparation for the showring.

Judges provided tips for the youth in both showmanship and grooming and cash prizes were awarded to the top entries in each division.

"We like to come to the show and bring our swine entries, so that the animals become accustom to the process and to see how our pigs are growing, compared to other entries," denoted Richard Dannheim, a parent and superintendent of the local Hopkins County Market Swine Show. "It just gives my sons an opportunity to learn and get ready for the upcoming show season."

Top, Dylan Dannheim parades his swine entry before the judge, and below, Dallas Dannheim and Katie Dougan
present their entries for exhibition. All are members of Hopkins County 4-H.

"We think it is a great way to get students involved and accustom to what to expect when they take their animal to a show," expressed Como-Pickton advisor Amy Bowen. "The process is almost like a major show, but a little bit more relaxed, so the students can learn and ask questions!"

And, Kimball Daniels finds a place to take a few "ZZZZZ's" while waiting to show his pigs on
Saturday morning, at the show.

Students all across Hopkins County are preparing livestock and poultry projects for the local Hopkins County Market Show and Sale in February and spending hours of time feeding, grooming, and practicing with their animals for the upcoming event.