Cherokee County Jr. Livestock Show opens this weeklend
Shop entries have doubled this year
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice's community work squad is spending approximately two weeks at the Will A. Lewis Exposition Center in Jacksonville to ready the facility for the upcoming youth livestock show. In the photo above, an offender puts a fresh coat of paint on the goat pens.

Shop entries for the 59th annual Cherokee County Junior Livestock Show have doubled since last year's 65 entries. This year there are 129.

The show's events will get underway Thursday afternoon at the show barn in Jacksonville.

Check-in time for animals and horticulture projects is 8-11 a.m. Thursday. Shop projects will be checked in from 4-7 p.m.

Time for check-in was moved from Thursday evening to Thursday morning because of the increase in the number of entries. This year there are 366 youth participating in the show's 514 entries. This compares to 311 exhibitors and 419 entries last year.

Shop entries showed the greatest increase from 65 to 129. Other increases were from 76 to 86 for beef; from eight to 13 for dairy; from 33 to 37 for rabbits and 72 to 93 for swine. Goats will decrease from 76 to 63 and horses from 39 to 23. Horticulture entries remain at 16 and poultry at 27. Last year's auction topped a quarter-million dollars - $250,199 to be exact.

The front gate at the Will A. Lewis Exposition Center in Jacksonville received a fresh coat of paint Saturday. Tackling the job are (from left) Michael Fleman, Jodi Kelley, Jacquelyn McKnight, Andrea Kelley, Matthew Courtney and Colton Kelley. Approximately 50 FFA and 4-H club members, along with their families, joined forces to get the facility ready for the Cherokee County Junior Livestock Show.

Last year's show results

Derek Crisp with his steer was the 2006 and 2007 high sale. Last year he sold his market steer to Leo Hicks for $5,250. With buyers' add-ons, Derek's take-home total was $6,808.50.

Another $14,095.86 was raised during the queen's contest. Just before the auction, Shelbie Kirkpatrick, Lookout 4-H Club, was crowned the 2007 Cherokee County Junior Livestock Show Queen. Shelbie raised $3,015 during the contest period by holding fundraisers and coordinating projects. She earned 100 points in the competition, which included an interview and western apparel contest.

First runner-up was Jana Hill, Rusk FFA with 92 points and $2,339; second runner-up, Stormie Goodwin, Cloverleaf 4-H, $2,044.21; and third runner-up, Kristen Stewart, Jacksonville FFA, $708.

2008 queen candidates

Queen candidates this year are Kristin Bean, daughter of Keith and Kathy Bean and sponsored by Bullard FFA; Brittany Blanton, daughter of James and Cindy Blanton and sponsored by New Summerfield FFA; Jimmie Lynn Dement, daughter of Tracy Dement and the late Tim Dement and sponsored by Rusk FFA; Amelia Kirkpatrick, daughter of Bill and Melissa Kirkpatrick and sponsored by Lookout 4-H; Monaca Mayes, daughter of Earnest Mayes and Ilza Gonzales and sponsored by Alto FFA; Ashley Meaux, daughter of Donnie Goodwin and Michael and Melissa Meaux, sponsored by Wells 4-H; Lacy Moore, daughter of Wynette Tobias and Richard Moore, sponsored by Wells 4-H; Kristen Parsons, daughters of Robin and Beverly Parsons, sponsored by Footbridge 4-H; Haley Posey, daughter of Mitchell and Shirley Posey, sponsored by Jacksonville FFA; Camille Simmons, daughter of Cecil and Traci Verdell, sponsored by Cloverleaf 4-H; Chelsie Stewart, daughter of Darrell Cheek and Delissa Stewart, sponsored by Carlisle FFA; Ramie Weaver, daughter of Craig and Glenna Weaver, sponsored by Classic 4-H; and Valerie York, daughter of Jonna and Jody Lloyd, sponsored by Troup FFA.

This year's schedule

Show times include Thursday, poultry at 1 p.m., rabbits, 3 p.m. and horticulture at 5 p.m.; Friday, goats and shop at 8 a.m., swine at 11:30 a.m., dairy at 3 p.m. and beef at 4 p.m.; Saturday, horses at 10 a.m., Queen's contest at 2 p.m. barbecue at 3 p.m. and shop and plant sale at 5 p.m. The livestock sale will immediately follow the shop and plant sale.

Steve Hutson is show chairman and Ricky Moore, cochairman. Tina Barber is secretary.

Directors for the Wayne Berry, president; Bill McKnight, first vice-president; Jackie Bolton, second vice-president; Rachel Vickers, secretary; Royce Traylor, treasurer; and Randy Low, past president.

Division chairpersons include Mr. McKnight, beef; Stacy Tugwell, dairy cattle; Kay Moore and Larry Burton, goats; Joe Daniel, horticulture; Betsy Barron, rabbits; Donny Goodwin, swine; Amy Goodwin, horses; Tamra Bolton and Rachel Vickers, poultry; Marc Bolton, shop; and Paula House, queen's contest.

1st event held in 1949

The show dates back to September 1949. It was held under a tent on a vacant lot just a half block southeast of the courthouse in Rusk.

There were 65 exhibitors, showing 103 animals in beef, dairy and swine classes. The Kiwanis sponsored show in 1949 was held on the lot south of city hall and it was reported that 2,000 people attended.

The show was moved in 1951 to the rodeo arena on Crockett Street, where it remained for 24 years.

Permanent sheds were constructed for the 1952 show when broiler and laying hen divisions were added and the show date moved to April. In 1959, a feeder lamb class was added and turkeys in 1961. The 1962 show of more than 200 entries added a horse show division.

The Jacksonville Kiwanis Club joined the Rusk club in sponsoring the event in 1970. The 27th annual show was held at the old hardwood floor mill on Highway 84 west of Rusk.

Then the show was moved to Jacksonville in 1976, where it was held at the Jacksonville National Guard armory.

Construction of the new show barn on the loop in Jacksonville began on Feb. 14, 1979. Shows have been held at this site since the facility's completion that year.