By MAGGIE MCMURRAY
Moapa Valley Progress
There is always a lot going on at the Clark County Fair. But for non-stop action, the Clark County Junior Livestock Association (CCJLA) show can’t be beat. Months of preparation conclude with the beginning of the show.
“We have a great group of kids this year that have put in hundreds of hours and a lot of effort to raise quality animals,” said Clark County Junior Livestock Association (CCJLA) President Corey Houston. “It’s great to see their excitement. We encourage the public to come out and support these kids however they can and help make this year’s fair a great experience for all.”
The livestock judging contest brings FFA and 4-H youth together to each take a turn at being in a judge’s shoes. A team of more experienced judges look at 8 classes of animals and rank them. Then the competitors have a chance to take a look at those same animals and try to rank them in the same order the judges did.
Wrapping things up on Wednesday is the 4-H skill-a-thon contest. In this contest 4-H members show what they’ve learned over the year as they identify animal breeds, cuts of meat, livestock feed and tools, and more.
Thursday’s barn action is all about the animals. Judging begins at 10am with the swine show. Competitors try to make a 200+ pound hog go exactly where they want it, merely by tapping it with a stick. Meanwhile, the judge ranks every pig on its quality. The top two pigs in each weight group get to attend the Champion Drive later in the day where a grand and reserve champion pig will be chosen.
After a brief lunch break, the lamb show starts at 2pm. Competitors in the lamb show have to show their lambs with no other implement than their hands. Following the lamb show, the goat show will begin at 3pm, followed by the beef show around 3:30 pm.
In the Champion Drive, the top two winners of every class in all 4 species return in a head-to-head battle for the best of the best. A grand champion and a reserve champion will be chosen for beef, swine, lambs and goats. All the champion winners will then be on display for the public at the back of the main livestock barn for the remainder of the fair.
If Thursday is about the animals, then Friday is definitely about the kids as they compete in showmanship contests. Although the schedule is the same, this time the judge is looking more at how the kids handle their animals. Once again, pigs compete at 10 am, followed by lambs at 2 pm, goats at 3 pm, and beef at 3:30 pm.
Saturday is the culmination of many months of hard work by the kids as each one has the opportunity to sell his/her animal at the livestock auction. The auction starts with the grand champion beef at 1 pm and continues on through all the grand and reserve animals. Then the remaining animals are shown and auctioned.
Animals are sold by the pound and all auction prices include cutting, wrapping, and delivery of some of the best grain-fed meat you will ever eat. Bidders can register for a number well in advance of the auction. Buyers are always needed to support the 4-H and FFA kids and purchases are largely tax deductible.
Sunday in the barn is full of fun. In the morning, Pee-Wee showmanship takes place. Young kids are welcome to come down to the barn and show a lamb or a goat. On the flip-side of PeeWee showmanship is, of course, Old-Timer’s showmanship. This is another of the most entertaining events to be found in the barn as former 4-H and FFA members, as well as current leaders, go behind their best friends’ backs and enter them into a contest where they have to show lambs, goats, pigs, and steers, to see who still has their skills. For a mere $5, anyone can be entered into the show. The entry fees go into a jackpot for the top 3 winners who can still walk-the-walk in addition to talking-the-talk.
Sunday afternoon the barn hosts the sheep shearing contests. Teams of two youth get the opportunity to wash, dry, and shear a sheep they have never seen before in full fleece, all while under the pressure of time.
Evenings in the barn are full of fun, too. Area 4-H specialist Lacey Sproul has once again planned several events for exhibitors along with their families and friends. Thursday night will be a game night, Friday night will feature a kick-ball tournament, and Saturday night will be a barn dance. All events will begin at 8 pm.
“We think this will be a really great year,” said CCJLA secretary Missy Hardy. “Our numbers are way up this year with a 4-year high on the number of animals that have been entered. It’s a great family atmosphere and a fun place to be during the fair. It should be a great show.”
