Livestock Show set for Jan. 22-24

As the cold air moves in, youth from Acadia Parish are working hard in preparing their animals for the upcoming 2015 Acadia Parish Junior Livestock Show and Sale to be held at the Rice Arena in Crowley Jan. 22-24.

This means it is time for an exciting week that combines the thrills of championships with the enthusiasm and anticipation of Acadia Parish youth. 

This year’s livestock show will feature over 100 4-H and FFA exhibitors and more than 250 animals from throughout Acadia Parish. This event allows 4-H and FFA members to exhibit their animal projects and show off all the hard work they have put forth. 

A livestock show is an event where livestock are exhibited and judged on certain phenotypical breed traits as specified by their respective breed standard. Species of livestock that may be shown are dairy cattle, beef breeding cattle, market steers, commercial heifers, breeding goats, commercial goats, market lambs, commercial lambs, breeding lambs, breeding hogs, market hogs and rabbits. Livestock shows are great events for today’s youth to learn responsibility and be able to socialize with other young people from all over the parish, state or the country. 

The livestock show will begin Thursday, Jan. 22, with the weighing in of all animals. On Friday, the sheep, goat, cattle and swine shows will take place, followed by the parish wide livestock judging contest open to all 4-H and FFA members. The event will then conclude with the rabbit show in the barn along with the livestock auction on Saturday morning in the auditorium of the extension office. 

Youth and adults can come out to the arena, where they can learn more about the 4-H and FFA programs, what it takes to exhibit an animal, and what products come from the different animals and a chance to get up close and personal to the livestock.

This event is open to the public. So come witness what all the anticipation and enthusiasm is about and support the youth of Acadia Parish whether it be as a spectator or to be a sponsor. If you would like further information, please contact the Acadia Parish Extension office at 788-8821.

The following is the schedule of events for the 2015 Acadia Parish Junior Livestock Show and Sale:

Thursday, Jan. 22

7 a.m. – Barn is open for all animals to arrive

11  a.m. – Sheep and goats must be in barn

11 a.m.-noon – Scales open for lamb and goat weigh in and mouthing of commercial ewes and does

1 p.m. – Swine must be in barn

1-2  p.m. – Scales open for swine weigh in

2 p.m. – Cattle must be in barn

2-2:30 p.m. – Scales open for steer and commercial heifer weigh in

5  p.m. – Deadline for market animals to move up a class (Must notify agents by this time)

Friday, Jan. 23 

8  a.m. – Cattle Show: Dairy, Dairy showmanship, Steers, Commercial Heifer, Beef Breeding and Showmanship

8  a.m. – Goat Show: Market Goat, Breeding, Commercial and Showmanship (After completion of market goat show, pictures of animals in the sale will be taken.)

• Immediately followed by Lamb Show: Breeding Sheep, Commercial Ewes, Market Lambs and Sheep Showmanship

• Immediately following the sheep show, Breeding Swine Show, followed by Market Swine Show and Showmanship

3  p.m. – Market sale slips must be turned in if selling animal in the sale (All champion and sale animals must have pictures taken at the backdrop by 3 p.m.)

5 p.m. – Livestock Judging Contest

6-9 p.m. – Livestock Exhibitors Dance (LSU AgCenter Extension Office)

Saturday, Jan. 24 

7:30-10 a.m. – Buyer registration (LSU AgCenter Extension Office) 

8-8:15 a.m. – Poultry and Rabbit check-in followed by poultry and rabbit shows

8 -10 a.m. – Buyers breakfast 

10:30 a.m. Parade of Breeding Champions followed by Livestock Sale (LSU AgCenter Extension Office)

All animals in the sale and champion breeding animals must remain in the barn until after the completion of the livestock sale.