Kids Compete in CCJLA Livestock Show

By IAIN MCMURRAY

The Progress

Perhaps the most action-packed place at the Clark County Fair last week was the Glen Hardy Livestock Barn.

Competitors were busy showing their animals in the 2023 Clark County Junior Livestock Association (CCJLA) show. The show started on Wednesday and carried on throughout the week as contestants competed in various activities and divisions, ultimately ending with the livestock auction on Saturday.

This year’s judge was Glen Martin, a well-known multi-species judge from Texas. Throughout the week, Martin judged a variety of classes to determine, not only who brought the best animals to market, but also who was the best at showing them.

This year, the winners of the Round Robin Showmanship competition, where competitors show an animal from each species, were Nadia Shakespear in the senior division, Aurelie Stratton in the intermediate division, and Andii Shakespear in the junior division.

Nateya Rider’s grand champion steer weighed 1305 pounds and sold for $8.00 per pound. It was bought by Lewis Family Trust.

Bentley McCormick’s grand champion swine weighed 252 pounds and sold for $15 per pound to Kasen Kohlhoss.

Nateya Rider’s grand champion lamb weighed in at 175 pounds and sold for $30 per pound to Frontier Ag Services.

Priseis Rider’s grand champion goat weighed 111 pounds and sold for $45.00 per pound to Lewis Family Trust.

The reserve champion steer was shown by Lyla Shakespear and weighed 1285 pounds, selling for $5.00 per pound to Silver State Cleaning.

The reserve champion goat, shown by Fallon Yardley, weighed 95 pounds and sold for $12.00 per pound to Silver State Cleaning.

The reserve champion swine was shown by Nadia Shakespear, weighed 280 pounds, and sold to Combs Brothers for $8.00 per pound.

The reserve champion lamb was shown by Cora Stratton, weighed 140 pounds, and sold for $50.00 per pound to Friends of Cora Stratton.

The barn was full of fun contests all week. Wednesday saw FFA members from all across the state of Nevada coming to compete in the FFA state livestock judging event, where competitors are tasked with ranking classes of livestock for market and breeding characteristics. Local showmen were also able to enter the contest. The winner in each age division won a new belt buckle.

This year also saw the return of the always entertaining sheep fitting contest where kids in teams of two take a completely untamed sheep and figure out how to wash it and then shear it as best they can in an hour’s time.

There were a variety of other activities, including a knowledge challenge to see who knew the most about livestock. There was a rate-of-gain contest to see which animals gained the most weight over the course of the season. Every exhibitor was required to submit a record book detailing events throughout the year and their animal care records. Placing and participating in each event, including market and showmanship, carried points with it. At the end of the show, the points were totaled and three All-Around Champions were crowned.

This year the winners were Iain McMurray in the senior division, Aurelie Stratton in the intermediate division, and Cora Stratton in the junior division.

Between all of the competitions, 36 different belt buckles were given to the winning competitors.
At the end of the show was the auction, where competitors hope to sell their projects and make a profit. This year, a total of 143 animals were sold through the auction across the four species.

After the auction was the Buyer’s BBQ, where kids got a chance to share a meal with the person who bought their animal. The dinner was sponsored by the Clark County Farm Bureau and cooked by Eugene Logue.

“The show went very well this year,” said Corey Houston, CCJLA Board President, “We’re grateful for everyone who came out and supported us from the kids to the parents to the buyers.”