NorthEast Texas Livestock Association (NETLA) members meet on Monday night and approve
show schedules and make reports for 2006 show. Left to right are Richard Dannheim, Eddie Lampp,
and Sotero Ramirez.

NETLA Organization Continues
Planning 2006 Show

by: Bobby McDonald

With only about 75 days until the 2006 NETLA Market Show, scheduled for February 23, 24, & 25, 2006, show officials met on Monday night, December 5th, and finalized a variety of plans and conducted the necessary business in preparation for the event. The meeting was called to order by NETLA President, Brad Johnson, who accepted committee reports on the number of entries for the upcoming show.

Entries in all categories of the show seem to have increased and according to preliminary figures, there will be approximately 145 lots in the Sale of Champions, based on current numbers. Johnny Lennon, Superintendent for the Poultry Show, indicated that he would be delivering baby chicks to those who had signed-up for them, in early January. "I have about ten to twelve more exhibitors wanting chicks this year, over last year," stated Lennon. "And, according to the other numbers, this is reflective of the entire show."

Members voted on securing the services of a photographer for the show; discussed concession stand operation, and set dates for the exhibitor parent meetings. Miller Grove exhibitors and their parents will meet in Miller Grove on January 5, 2006, at 7:00 p.m., according to Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Richard Watson. Micheal Bowen, VAT at Como-Pickton, has scheduled Monday, December 12th, at 6:30 p.m., for the meeting at his school. Other Vocational Agriculture Teachers will be scheduling their own meetings in the school systems where they teach. Then, the Hopkins County 4-H has scheduled a large meeting of their members and parents in the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, on January 8, 2006, at 2:00 p.m. Those exhibitors and their parents who are unable to attend one of the other meetings are encouraged to attend the Sulphur Springs 4-H meeting, to make certain that they have all of the rules and the necessary raffle tickets to participate in the show.

Raffle tickets were distributed to 4-H leaders and Vocational Agriculture Teachers at the Monday night meeting. Exhibitors are required to sell 20 raffle tickets in order to participate in the show. The tickets are for a "side" of beef and cost $2.00 each. Two lucky winners will be awarded the prizes, when their names are drawn at the Sale of Champions.

In other Monday night action, the NETLA membership confirmed the judges and the price of their expenditures, received from each Superintendent. They also discussed the plans for the Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau sponsored Buyers Luncheon, and distributed brochures for the 2006 show. The Buyers Luncheon will consist of a prime rib dinner and will be conducted on Wednesday, February 22, 2006, prior to the show.

With the growth of the show, the organization approved the purchase of new computer software and a laptop computer and printer, to be implemented with the 2006 show. This will facilitate better record keeping and the compilation of the results of the show.

Following the discussion of other routine business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m., with committees charged with making arrangements for the upcoming show and sale.