Katie Dougan, feeds her pig, that she plans to exhibit in the upcoming NETLA Market Show, as she
makes time in a busy schedule to exercise and care for all of the family animals.

Showing At the Market Show
Is "A Family Affair"

by: Bobby McDonald

The time requirements for youth to feed, exercise, and prepare their animals for the NETLA Market Show is quite extensive. "The kids are out early, before school, and then spend a couple of hours every afternoon, when they get home, just feeding and exercising animals," related Joel Dougan. "When they are involved in other school activities, sometimes it gets really 'hectic' trying to adjust the schedules!"

Katie Dougan pauses while watering chickens on a busy afternoon, after school. She and
her brother, Jake Dougan, share the responsibilites of caring for both of their projects.

"But, that's where the sharing of the work comes into play," advises Katie Dougan. "When I've got a meeting or school activity, I can depend on my brother, Jake, to come home and get the feeding done, and likewise, when he's required to stay after school for ACE or some other activity, I can come home and get things started!" Jake and Katie Dougan are the children of Joel and Tammy Dougan, and live in the Shooks Chapel Community, south of Sulphur Springs.

"Busy schedules is just part of life," acknowledges Katie, as she puts clean water out for two pens of chickens and gets ready to exercise three pigs, she and Jake are preparing for the show. "There is some activity almost every afternoon, and just like this afternoon, Jake is staying after school and it's my turn to do the chores. He'll be here about 6:00 and help feed chickens and clean out the pens. Learning to adjust schedules and share the load is what it is all about!"

 

Meanwhile, the same scenario can be seen at the Tim Kerby farm, south of Brashear. Mason and Lucas Kerby are active Miller Grove School students and involved in a host of school activities. "It's gotten a little bit easier to get everything done, now that basketball season is over," advised Mason. "But, while basketball was being played Lucas had games on two nights and I had games on two more nights, and that didn't include the tournaments."

"When I'd have a game, Mason would come home and feed the chickens, and then on the nights he played, I'd make it to the chicken pen to do the work," stated Lucas Kerby. "Then, I showed a dairy scramble heifer at Ft. Worth, so that had to be fit into the schedule, as well as helping with the trailer that the Miller Grove FFA Chapter is building for the upcoming Houston Livestock Show. It gets really busy at times!"

Miller Grove brothers, Mason, left, and Lucas Kerby, share responsibilities of caring for their poultry
projects, so that both of them can participate in a wide variety of school activities. The are the sons of
Mr. & Mrs. Tim Kerby.

"And, that doesn't count the Houston chickens we are raising," inserts Mason. "Our chickens that we're raising for Houston are just two weeks old and they are on a different schedule for feeding and care, than the ones we are preparing for the Hopkins County Market Show!"

And, the busy lifestyle isn't over for the Kerby Boys, as they have another group of chickens that they are
preparing for the upcoming Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and will be exhibiting them in March.

As active lifestyles are the "norm" for most Hopkins County Youth who excel in school, these youth have managed to find the time for exhibiting livestock and learned valuable lessons of sharing responsibilities, prioritizing their chores, and making certain they devote the time and effort to a job well done!

Best of Luck
To Katie & Jake
and Mason & Lucas,
In the upcoming
NETLA Market Show!

February 23, 24, & 25th

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