The Craig County Livestock Club is in the middle of the show season attending fair after fair and show after show! This keeps everyone busy but gives them, and their lambs, plenty of practice for the State Fair of Virginia in October.
Five livestock club members took animals to the New River Valley Fair at the end of July. This is one of the few fairs where animals have to remain for several days. They were not only show animals but also part of the fair experience. Our kids traveled back and forth each day, feeding, stall cleaning, bathing and shearing their animals throughout the weekend.
This year, lambs were the only species shown by our youth. Everyone did an excellent job in showmanship, Morgan Beane placed third at the intermediate level, Claire Deplazes placed fourth, Mason Huffman, sixth and Jenna Bostic, seventh. In the junior division, Ashlyn Keen placed fourth.
Animals were shown in both commercial ewe classes (ewes are judged on their potential for producing high quality show lambs) and market lamb classes. Mason Huffman’s ewe lamb was first in her class. Claire Deplazes brought many of her homegrown ewes. She received a first place, two-second place ribbons and three–fifth place ribbons. Ashlyn Keen’s ewe lamb was fourth in her class.
Our youth did well in the market lamb classes, Mason Huffman had two-second place wins and a fifth. Jenna Bostic’s dorset lamb was second in her class, Claire Deplazes brought five markets lambs with places ranging from first to seventh. Ashlyn Keen placed fourth and seventh in her two classes. Morgan Beane’s heavyweight lamb was first in his class.
Youth also participated in the stockman’s competition, which test their knowledge of livestock, equipment and feeds. Our junior team, with Mason and Ashlyn, was the third place team. Mason placed seventh overall in the junior division.
A special note of gratitude to all our supporters in the community. We couldn’t do this without your help. We are so grateful to have such a strong connection to agriculture in our county and appreciate all who have helped pass that love on to our youth. Thank you!
-Submitted by Andy Allen