Thursday, May 2, 2024
One of the biggest local events of the year, the annual Coryell County Youth Fair, is scheduled from Tuesday, Jan. 10 through Saturday, Jan. 14. It will showcase the talents and commitment of local youths and give them an opportunity to earn rewards and recognition for their efforts.
This year, a record 418 exhibitors are scheduled to participate. In 2022, only 362 exhibitors took part in the event, which Keith Smart, president of the Coryell County Youth Fair Board of Directors, attributed to the lingering effects of COVID-19.
Total number of entries expected in each category are:
* Home economics, 1,462
* Ag mechanics, 12
* Angora goats, 19
* Cattle, 26
* Dairy goats, 33
* Market goats, 64
* Horses, 134
* Poultry, 90
* Swine, 91
* Rabbits, 333
* Sheep, 88
There are also 136 pee wee entries from children in the first and second grades.
The number of entries is up nearly across the board, said Keith Smart, president of the Coryell County Youth Fair Board of Directors.
"Poultry is up a good bit and horses are up," Smart said. "Sheep and pig entries are about the same. Rabbits are up a little bit, and goats are also up."
Judging for events will begin at 9 a.m. Jan. 10, with the home economics category kicking off the competition.
The fair will close with the annual auction sale, which begins at 6 p.m. Jan. 14. Last year, the auction generated more than $300,000 in proceeds for participating children and teens.
"Community support has stayed strong," Smart said. "We do have a community that is very giving. People also do a great show of coming to support the youth at the fair.
"I hope people will come out this year and watch the shows. We'll have a good concession stand and we're hoping for good weather."
2023 Coryell County Youth Fair Schedule
Tuesday, Jan. 10
* 9 a.m.-5 p.m., judging of home economics
* 9 a.m., check-in for horse show
* 9:30 a.m., horse show judging begins
* Noon, record books for commercial cattle due to superintendent
* 2-4 p.m., arrival of rabbits; weight and classify at 5:30 p.m. or when judging is complete
* 6-8 p.m., home economics open to the public; country store open for sale of baked goods only (except grand and reserve champion entries)
* 8 p.m., release all baked goods with the exception of grand and reserve champion entries. These will remain for display.
Wednesday, Jan. 11
* 8:30 a.m., home economics open to the public
* 9 a.m., judging commences in the following order: Meat pens, fryers, breeding rabbits (senior, then junior showmanship to follow)
* Noon - 5:00 p.m., All other livestock entries can be unloaded into Complex Pavilion
* 5:30-6 p.m., weigh/classify sheep
* 6-6:30 p.m., weigh/classify market goats/ commercial does/dairy goats to follow
* 6:45-8 p.m., weigh/classify swine
* 6-7 p.m., weigh/classify market steers/check heifers
Thursday, Jan. 12
* 8:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m., home economics division open to the public
* 10 a.m., judging/interviews for commercial cattle
* 11:00 a.m., judging commences in the following order: Halter classes: breeding heifers, market steers to follow halter cattle (senior, then junior halter cattle showmanship)
* Approximately 2 p.m., judging of Angora goats, following Angora show, (senior, then junior showmanship to follow)
* Approximately 4 p.m., judging starts for breeding sheep, market lambs (senior, then junior showmanship to follow)
Friday, Jan. 13
* 7:30 a.m., poultry check-in
* 8:30 a.m. – 6 p.m., home economics open to public
* 9 a.m., judging commences in the following order: Poultry – broilers, roasters, turkeys (senior, then junior showmanship to follow)
* Approximately 11 a.m., goat show (senior, junior doe/billy then billy showmanship to follow) * * Approximately 1 p.m., goats – commercial, market
* 4 p.m., judging commences in the following order: Swine – breeding, market
* Prior to showmanship, Coryell County 4-H Greased Pig Contest (second-graders only)
* Following pig contest, senior, then junior swine showmanship
* Following market goats, release of livestock auction items with the exception of swine, which will be released after the swine show. Release of home economics entries and pee wee entries
Saturday, Jan. 14
* 9 a.m., pee wee rabbit show (check-in at 8:30 a.m.)
* 10:30 a.m., pee wee goat show/lamb (check in 9:30 a.m.)
* 11:30 a.m., home economics pictures for newspaper (grand and reserve only) and all home economic auction photos
* 11:45 a.m., all home economic auction items including freshly baked goods should be placed on auction exhibit table
* 5:30 p.m., announcements, auction dedication ceremony and special awards
* 6 p.m., auction sale – immediately following auction all items are released
