CHEROKEE COUNTY JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW
SHOP TIL THEY DROP
BY LELAND ACKER

Before Cleaver & Grant Davis

2 rebuilt tractors will be displayed at county show

The Will A. Lewis Exposition Center will come alive this weekend as Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H club members from all over Cherokee County will show their project goats, pigs, chickens and cattle. Beyond the livestock pens and feed troughs will be rows of shop projects, such as trailers, restored tractors and feeders.

"It's probably the cost of feeding and maintaining an animal and carrying it to the show," said County Judge Chris Davis about the rise of shop project entries in the Cherokee County Junior Livestock Show. "You have a solid figure when you are doing a shop project, except for tractors. You never really know how much tractors are going to cost until you tear into them."

Judge Davis said it is easier to calculate the cost of a shop project as opposed to calculating the cost of animal care.

Judge Davis' son, Grant, is restoring a 1957 International Harvester 3300 he bought from Shelley Cleaver for the livestock show.

After Grant Davis and a 1957 International Harvester 330 Utility Tractor

Last year, Grant combined forces with Chase Holcomb on a John Deere restoration project.

"He just likes shop projects, he enjoys working on them," Judge Davis said. "He's using the money he made on previous projects to restore this tractor. He'll have to sell this project to make money to put into his college fund.

"That's what it's about for a lot of these kids. The money they make off these projects will go toward their college education."

Last year, Alto's FFA fared well in the livestock show.

Judge Davis attributed the success of the Alto agricultural program to agriculture teacher John Griffith, parental involvement and the support of the Alto school administration.

"Mr. Griffith does an outstanding job," Judge Davis said. " He can be working on eight to 10 different projects at one time and keep his cool, whereas I may be helping on one or two and be ready to pull my hair out. His is an important job that is not appreciated as much as it should be."

He said the parents support the FFA program, which is also supported by the administration.

"The things I learned in ag are things I use everyday, from handling tools safely to fixing my lawn mower," Judge Davis said. "These are things you use in life no matter what you do. With the shop projects, you learn how to manage money and time constraints."

He added that the livestock show is an event to which he looks forward all year.

"Seeing and meeting the youth from all the great schools in Cherokee County is one of my favorite things to do all year," he said. "We have great kids, parents and schools all over Cherokee County. The show is a great place to be."