By Allen Hamrick
With the heat taking a back seat to decent weather and the sun going down on the horizon, the red carpet was rolled out for some of the finest looking animals in this county, from pigs to birds, at the 2024 Clay County Agriculture Fair. Friday night was pig night as some of the finest bacon was paraded in front of the judge to determine the best of the best. Boots were hoisted on the gates as the conversation of the day was pure farm talk. Savanah Rhodes was named Ag Queen and held the honor well. The opening of the event was ushered in by Delegate Roger Hanshaw as he cut the ribbon and got the fair underway. This began the parade of hogs and the battle for containment was on. All the youth did a great job, but in the end it was Jase Young taking home top honors with his pig, Sage, who took home the Grand Champion market hog ribbon. The Reserve Grand Champion market hog was awarded to the hog of Logan Craze. With the hog show winding down, it was time for some much needed R and R for the hogs and their keepers.
Saturday ushered in a new day with vendors setting up their wares outside the barn and a climbing wall was erected by the National Guard for attendees to give climbing a try. On Saturday, it was the fluff parade of rabbits, goats, chickens, sheep and cattle that took the stage. Judging started with the rabbits, and there were some fine rabbits on display. Taking home the Grand Champion market rabbits was Libby Dawson and Reserve Champion was Parker Taylor. The Grand Champion pygmy goat award went to Gabriel Dawson and Reserve Champion was Jeremiah Davis. The Grand Champion chicken award went to Reagan Holcomb, and Reserve Grand Champion was earned by Levi Holcomb Bennett. Taking home the Grand Champion feeder steer was Gabriel Shamblin, and Isaac Lilly owned the Reserve Grand Champion.
After all the judging took place, it was time to get ready for the auction. Before that event got started, some of the finest food was spread out on tables. Participating youth paraded their animals in the corral for the prospective buyers. The stands were full of bidders, and it was a great time for the youth to understand the meaning of hard work paying off. All in all, it was a good show, and participants walked away from the event with good memories and some with pockets of money. Some of the youth of this county still hold true the ideals of farm life and have a desire for this way of life to continue. They did a great job of raising some of the most superb farm animals I have seen. Without these laudable figures that stand in the fields and pens, who brave the elements day after day, this event would not take place. The ones who were at the helm of the Agriculture Fair also did a fine job of putting it together. It is good that we still have people who invest time and effort into the younger generation in this county. All of the youth did an excellent job of raising animals and showing them. Many thanks go out to all the bidders that showed up in support of the kids.
As the Ag Fair closed its doors on 2024 one just couldn’t leave without listening to the animals communicating to each other and maybe a singing song in a language all their own … Don’t take my mud hole away…don’t use straightener on my tail, just keep the rotten cabbage a comin’ to fatten me for the sale. Stay outta my mud hole…and don’t be grabbin’ my tail… just keep the rotten husks a comin’ before I go on sale…We are the hogs, the rabbits, the goats, the chickens and the cows..if ya want money in yer pocket, ya better feed us now.
Support the youth, they are the future! Support the youth, they are the future!