Left to right, Brad Johnson, President of NETLA, Michael Bowen, Vocational Ag Teacher at
Como-Pickton, and Richard Watson, Vocational Ag Teacher at Miller Grove, discuss some
of the upcoming preparations for the 2006 Market Show, February 23, 24, & 25, 2006.

NETLA Organization Meets
To Plan County Show

by: Bobby McDonald

Members of the Northeast Texas Livestock Association met on Monday night, November 7th, at 7:00 p.m., in the Sulphur Springs High School Vocational Ag Building, to make plans for the upcoming Hopkins County Market Show and Sale. A large crowd of vocational agriculture teachers from across Hopkins County and show superintendents met to discuss the validation process and the numbers of animals expected to be shown by county youth.

The 2006 Hopkins County Market Show and Sale will be conducted on February 23, 24, & 25th, in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, with the Sale of Champions scheduled for Saturday night, February 25th.

Richard Dannheim, Superintendent of the Swine Show, reported that he expected 80 to 100 entries in the swine show and would be conducting his validation process on November 22nd. Michael Phillips, Superintendent of the Goat and Lamb Show, has already validated 24 lambs and 87 goats for the upcoming show.

Bryan Wright, Superintendent of the Steer and Heifer Show, related to the group that they had already validated and tagged 32 steers for the 2006 show and that some 7 or 8 of those steer represented Hopkins County bred steers. A special award is presented to the top steer shown, that is bred and produced in Hopkins County. The award is sponsored by the NETBIO organization.

In other businesses, the group discussed the brochure that is produced each year, and the need for additional copies of the production for distribution. Also, a lengthy discussion insued regarding the moving of the show to afford computerization of the records and data. The executive committee will be meeting with individuals from the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, according to Brad Johnson, and working toward computerizing the show results.

December 1st was announced as the last date for individuals to place their orders for broilers, if they planned on showing a pen of broilers in the show. Johnny Lennon serves as the Superintendent of the Broiler Show.

Johnson gave a complete financial statement on the 2005 Northeast Texas Dairy Show and announced positive feedback from that effort, with an increase in exhibitors of 25 individuals.

The meeting was adjourned with plans to meet on December 5th and distribute raffle tickets to exhibitors and make additional plans for the event.

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