For the hundreds of Gillespie County youth who compete, the livestock shows are the culmination of months of long hours of caring for, feeding and grooming their animals.
And these livestock exhibitors often see their hard work pay off in the form of championship honors, prize ribbons, trophies, rewarding bids paid at the auctions and scholarships.
For months prior to the stock show season, Gillespie County 4-Hers and Fredericksburg and Harper FFA members are busy working with their animals.
They are assisted by advisors, teachers and adult volunteers as they ready for local shows and competitions around the state.
While several livestock shows are held in the fall, competitions don’t begin until January for most youngsters.
Officially kicking off the 2024 stock show season for all of the county’s youth is the Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show. This coming year’s show will be Jan. 3-6, 2024, at the Show Barn at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds.
Hundreds of entries are annually displayed at the county show, including market steers, hogs, meat goats and lambs, along with breeding beef cattle, breeding sheep, goats, broilers and turkeys.
At the auction that concludes the county show, local merchants, business people and individuals from the surrounding area turn out to support young exhibitors with their bids.
In August, local youths join exhibitors from around the state in competing for top honors in livestock competitions held as part of the Gillespie County Fair.
Exhibitors and parents with questions concerning the livestock competitions are encouraged to visit each show’s website.
For more information on the stock show schedule, the Gillespie County 4-H website can be accessed at gillespie.agrilife.org.
STOCK SHOWS
Gillespie County 4-Hers, Fredericksburg and Harper FFA members will be competing in livestock shows around the state, including the following:
State Fair of Texas in Dallas
Sept. 28-Oct. 22.
Heart O’Texas Fair and Rodeo in Waco
Sept. 27-Oct. 15
Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show
Jan. 3-6, 2024.
Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo
Jan. 12-Feb. 13, 2024.
San Angelo Stock Show
Feb. 1-18, 2024.
San Antonio Livestock Exposition
Feb. 6-24, 2024.
Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
Feb. 26-March 15, 2024.
Rodeo Austin
March 7-23, 2024.
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