After several decades without a poultry show, the San Saba County Livestock Show adds a broiler division in an effort to engage more exhibitors by providing a project that requires less space and initial investment. This however was not an easy undertaking by any means.
The intensive seven-week project begins when chicks arrive at just a day old from a group ordered batch through Texas A&M’s poultry science center. Each exhibitor or family can order 25-75 chicks for their project. Temperature control, lighting, feed changes and fresh water all play a key role in the growth of the meat birds and exhibitors monitor these multiple times a day.
Richard New, Kim New and Carol Gibson lended their previous experiences raising market broilers to the kids by hosting informational meetings and a showmanship clinic to better equip our new exhibitors on their adventure.
Come show day, a pen of three birds is shown as a unit which encourages community youth involvement. Three exhibitors enlisted an additional 26 friends for a total of 39 kids presenting birds in a successful first show surrounded by a full crowd of supportive spectators who got a few laughs too.
“I count this as a success because the whole intent was that if we could just open the door for one new kid to have the opportunity to learn stewardship, empathy, responsibility and commitment through a livestock project then we have fulfilled the ultimate goal of a county livestock show.” Ten of the initial 15 exhibitors who signed up for the broiler project are first time exhibitors and many have hopes to raise other projects.