Hays County youth came to Dripping Springs Ranch Park to compete in The Hays County Youth Livestock Show over the past two weeks. The event concluded with the presentation of awards and an auction.
“I want to thank you, and all of our sponsors, for supporting this great event, and the good it does for the youths of our community,” Jeff Dodd, president of the Hays County Youth Livestock Show, said at the final day’s award ceremony. Dodd gave a small speech on the positive values instilled by the livestock show, just before a prayer and national anthem, opened the awards ceremony.
Lilah Lyons with her Duroc pig Bucks, which won Reserve Grand Champion. Lilah came from Kyle to compete and is the fourth generation of her family to participate in livestock shows. Bucks is six months old and weighs 240 lbs. Duroc pigs are one of the older breed of domestic pigs. They’re known for their reddish-brown, large framed bodies with partially dropping ears.
The Ranch Park facilities were praised by some of the show participants. “Our stay here was very nice,” Alfredo Nino, the father of participant Joseph Nino, said. “The facilities here at Ranch Park for the animals are very good, and we wound up staying at the Holiday Inn. It’s been one of our more comfortable trips. It’s not always the case on these show trips.”
Animals weren’t the only thing competing, so were budding artists. Six-grader Finley White from Wimberley won Reserve Grand Champion with her painting. The young painter also recently won the Texas General Land Office Contest, and just returned from a cruise that was the grand prize. She attends Dan Forth Junior High and has been painting for seven years.
The Nino family came from San Marcos and brought a small truck load of steers with them.
Their son, Joseph, won Reserve Breed Champion for British Steers, and also won Reserve Grand Champion for his home baked apple pie.
From left to right: Duchess Rebekah McDaniel, Ambassador Ty Dahlstrom holding his steer “Shorty,” Queen Mia Cariaga and Cade Oldham (a DSHS senior) holds his steer called “Butterball.”
This year’s show judges are: Brock Herren for swine; Lane Halfmann for goats; Charles Praue for agricultural mech, Vickie Muni for horses, Stephen Zoeller for cattle, Denton Lowe for lamb; Michael Haynes for poultry; and Frank Farrow for rabbits.
