Allen Hamrick
With the heat reaching into the 90’s and the fresh and somewhat tart scent of barnyard filling the nostrils, the 2026 Clay County Youth Agriculture fair was under way. With quality at 110 percent, the animals sweated out the weekend. With the heat reaching into the 90’s and the fresh and somewhat tart scent of barnyard filling the nostrils, the 2026 Clay County Youth Agriculture fair was under way. With quality at 110 percent, the animals sweated out the weekend.
On Friday evening, Timothy Brown from the Department of Agriculture officially opened the show with the cutting of the ribbon. Afterward it was all action — it was time to bring on the hogs to be judged.
On Saturday it was the chickens, rabbits, goats and sheep that took center stage to be judged.
On Saturday night, the auction was held as Clay County youth paraded their animals in the corral for the prospective buyers. This annual event is a great time for youth to understand the meaning of hard work and getting a little something for their dedication. This year’s Ag Fair Queen was Lydia Shamblin. Many thanks go out to those who bid and made it possible. All in all, it was a good show, and former owners walked away from the event with good memories, a work ethic instilled and some with pockets of money. Without these laudable figures that stand in the fields and pens and brave the elements day after day, this event would not take place.
Some of the youth of this county still hold true to the ideals of farming 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 in this state. Clay County 4-H also had a display that the youth participated in. The ones who were at the helm of the Agriculture Fair did a fine job of putting this event together. It is good that we still have people who care in this county and work. Thanks to Betsy Keiffer for all her help with the fair and providing additional information and pictures.
Taking the top hog award for 2026 was Jase Young whose hog took home the Grand Champion market hog ribbon. The Reserve Grand Champion award went to Bently McKinney. Other winners were Market Rabbits Grand Champion- Libby Dawson, Reserve- Matthew Neely. Meat Goat Grand Champion went to Payton Rhodes. Grand Champion chickens were a 4-H exhibitor, runner up was Elijah Paxton. Grand Champion in Feeder Steer was a 4-H exhibitor. Grand Champion Wool Market Lamb was Katie Davis, reserve was a 4-H exhibitor. Grand Champion Hair Market Lamb was a 4-H exhibitor, reserve was Rachel Shamblin. There were best of class awards on Friday as well. There were participants who won the best of show awards by knowing all about their animals and showing the judges that they knew what they were doing.
A big dinner was laid out on Saturday evening before the auction and bellies were filled with some of the best food money could buy. All the youth did an excellent job of raising animals and showing them. Thanks to all the bidders who showed up in support of our kids. As the Ag Fair closed its doors on 2026, one just couldn’t leave without listening to the animals communicating to each other and maybe a little song in a language all their own … give me a mud hole where the water is deep, give me a coop with plenty to eat, just give me till mornin’ to fatten up the meat, grab a fork and knife and sit down to eat . Support the youth, they are the future!
