Junior livestock show set to begin next week

The 85th Bandera County Junior Livestock Show is set to kickoff next Thursday morning, continuing Friday and concluding with Saturday’s awards and auction.

Officials recently released the schedule for this year’s show, which will be held at Mansfield Park, located which is located at 2886 Hwy 16 outside of downtown Bandera.

Times are subject to change.

Thursday, January 14

8:00 a.m. - Animals start arriving

8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. - Poultry and rabbits will be weighed and sifted as they unload; All others unload and stalled first

10:00 a.m. - All animals in place

10:00 a.m. - Rabbit showmanship

10:00 a.m. - Weigh and sift lambs, goats, cattle and hogs

12:30 p.m. - Judge Breeding Sheep, followed by Market Lambs

- Sheep Showmanship (follows Market Lamb Show)

1:00 p.m. - Judge Broilers, followed by Turkeys

- Poultry Showmanship (follows Turkey Show)

2:00 p.m. - Judge Farm Mechanics Projects

3:00 p.m. - Judge Market Rabbits, followed by Breeding Rabbits (approximate time—will follow Poultry Showmanship)

3:30 p.m. - Judge Meat Does followed by Market Goats

4:30 p.m. - Goat Showmanship (follows Goat Show)

- Judge Angora Goats

Friday, January 15

8:00 a.m. - Judge Market Swine, followed by Breeding Swine

- Swine Showmanship (follows Swine Show)

10:00 a.m. - Judge Breeding Cattle, followed by Market Steers

- Cattle Showmanship (follows Steer Show)

2:00 p.m. - Horse Show - Rodeo arena

1:00 p.m. - Deadline for exhibitor to notify superintendent of which animal they intend to sell. (or conclusion of last judged event)

T.B.A. - All feeders, handling supplies, etc. should be removed from barn.

T.B.A. - Barn setup after Swine Show.

Saturday, January 16

10:30 a.m. - Buyer Registration

11:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. - Buyer BBQ Lunch

11:30 a.m. - Stock Show Awards

12:00 p.m. - Livestock Auction

The birth of the Bandera County Junior Livestock show was in 1936 when the Medina Future Farmers of America hosted the first stock show.

In 1937, County Agent Howard Schlemmer started a county 4-H organization and used that foundation to jump start the junior show.

By 1938, the county show included 23 pens of sheep, several goats, some hogs and chickens. Twenty-three boys took part in the show, exhibiting more than 140 animals.

The show alternated its location each year from Bandera to Medina and back again, before moving to its permanent home at Mansfield Park in Bandera.