Houston County hosts Young Farmers Cattle and Market Swine Show

The Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter in Perry held the annual Houston County Young Farmers Beef Cattle and Market Swine Show this weekend at the Foster Rhodes Beef and Dairy and New South Arenas. With an estimated attendance of 1,600 (according to the Fairgrounds website, http://www.gnfa.com/events/2019/houston-county-young-farmers-beef-cattle–market-swine-show), the event began with a move-in time of 8:00 a.m. on Friday morning for the participants and animals, and a cattle show in the Beef and Dairy Arena at 9:00 a.m.

Friday morning began with a silent auction, weigh-ins, and a skill-a-thon (from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.), followed by the cattle show at 5:00 p.m., which featured showmanship, heifers, and steers. The swine show began at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday in the New South Arena and included skill-a-thon and record book awards, pee wee showmanship, showmanship, a card game fundraiser, gilt show, and barrow show, as well as a “split the pot” raffle.

Admission to the event was free, “fun for families,” as advertised, and supported the FFA (Future Farmers of America) and 4-H (a positive youth development and mentoring organization) youth of Houston County.

Paige Paschal (17) was at the swine show on Saturday with her younger sister, Karlee, and mother, Gina. It was Karlee’s first year attending the event; however, this marked Paige’s second year as a participant. Gina explained that Paige’s interest was first sparked a couple of years ago at the national fair, and with some encouragement from one of her Perry Middle School teachers, Ashley Denton, she began showing swine and is now enjoying being a part of the sport.