Brothers Mills, left, and Mason Meier had the grand champion and reserve grand champion steers, respectively, at the Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show, held last weekend at the fair grounds. Cattle judge Carl Muntean of Iola stands with the award winners. It was the first time in recent memory in a steer show that siblings had taken the top two prizes. — Standard-Radio Post/Ken Esten Cooke
Praise was high for youth and their animals at the 2016 Gillespie County 4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Auction, Thursday through Saturday.
“Our judges this year were very complimentary to the quality of livestock and the level of respect shown toward them from the kids in our county,” said Blaine Hahn, president of the Gillespie County Youth Livestock Show Association.
“Everyone should be proud of the future farmers and ranchers that we have coming through the ranks,” Hahn said.
Held at the Gillespie County Fair Grounds, the 2016 show drew 341 exhibitors and 801 entries.
Exhibitors included 219 Gillespie County 4-Hers, 96 Fredericksburg FFA members (junior and high school) and 26 Harper FFA members.
Entries totaled 801, including 260 swine, 123 meat goats, 167 lambs, 10 breeding sheep, 110 broilers, 38 turkeys, 45 steers, 10 heifers and 38 Angoras.
In looking back at the weekend show, Hahn said, “We made quite a few changes this year with the show grounds and the way we were running things and it really took all 15 board members to get this accomplished.”
“I am very proud of the outstanding volunteers that come out every year and help us put on such an outstanding show for the youth in the county,” Hahn said. “We have well over 100 volunteers who make the show run very smoothly and efficiently.”
Hahn added, “I would like to personally thank my family for putting up with me for the last couple of months, the board members for organizing their committees and the sale committee for putting the icing on the cake for the weekend with an awesome sale.”
“I have gotten more out of this year than any year and it is because of the generosity of so many in this great community,” he said.
The 2016 livestock show culminated with the annual auction on Saturday in the Exhibition Hall where a record $1,042,955 was paid for 340 units.
(More on the auction can be found in a separate article.)
Highlighting the judging on Thursday and Friday was the selection of the grand champion animals in the various divisions.
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