The Randall County 78th Annual Junior Livestock Show is underway and will continue through Jan. 8, bringing together hundreds of youth exhibitors, families, and community supporters for one of the county’s longest-running agricultural traditions.
According to officials, students in grades 3 through 12 are participating in this year’s event, which features more than 200 exhibitors and nearly 500 animals. The show gives young participants the chance to present livestock projects they have spent months, and in many cases years, developing.
“Well, these kids are excited about this event,” said JD Ragland, County Extension Agent for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Randall County. “They have been working all year long with their projects. And today is Showcase Day. It’s the day that they show off their hard work and effort that they’ve been doing with their animals. And 4-H and FFA is such a great place to be involved in the livestock.”
The event highlights projects from both 4-H and FFA members and serves as a learning experience that goes well beyond the show ring. Ragland emphasized that livestock shows help students develop life skills that benefit them long after the event ends.
Ragland shared livestock shows present unique opportunities to students and their families, including lessons in responsibility, hard work, building connections, and communication skills. These experiences often involve the entire family, as parents and guardians help support the daily care and preparation required for each animal.
Randall County Junior Livestock Ambassador Braelin Moreland is one of the many students who has seen the long-term benefits of showing livestock. Moreland said she has been involved for nine years, showing swine, goats, and cattle.
“Responsibility is one of the biggest things that we’ve learned showing livestock, whether you’re showing cattle, goats, pigs, it really doesn’t matter,” Moreland said. “You have to wake up, you got to feed, water each of your animals. For cattle, a lot of people bathe their cattle twice a day. So, it’s a lot of responsibility that you take on when you start to show livestock.”
In addition to skill-building, the livestock show can also provide financial opportunities for students. Ragland explained that success in the show ring and at the sale can help students as they transition to college and future careers.
“As they reach graduation and move into college, hopefully they’ll be able to, if their animals do well at the sale, they’ll have some money, even an opportunity to receive some scholarships that will help them at the collegiate level,” Ragland said. He added that connections made through the program can lead to job opportunities and lifelong careers.
The livestock show runs from Jan. 6–8, with events scheduled throughout the week at the Happy State Bank Center, located at 111 East Loop 335 South. Events include the Heifer Show and Market Steer Show on Monday, the Broiler, Lamb, and Goat shows on Tuesday, the Rabbit Show on Wednesday, and the Gilt and Market Barrow Show on Thursday.
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