For two days each May the animal stockyard in Staunton turns into an agribusiness classroom. Mixed in among the dust, tears, bleats, moos, and squeals are a lot of life lessons not only in animal husbandry, but in business, citizenship, and marketing as well. On May 4-5 at the Staunton Union Stockyard on New Hope Road, the classroom opens again with the 66th annual Augusta County 4-H and FFA Market Animal Show.
The 212 4-H and FFA elementary, middle, and high schoolers from across Augusta County mark the largest number of students who will be exhibiting market lambs, hogs, and steers during the history of the event. The show, which is sponsored each year by Augusta County Ruritan clubs, Staunton Rotary Club, Staunton-Augusta Rotary Club, and the Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce, is the largest of its kind east of the Mississippi River. There are 149 steers, 188 lambs, and 183 hogs pre-registered for this year’s show.
Who would have thought in 1945 when assistant county Extension Agent and 4-H leader Dick Coffey helped start the “Sears Roebuck 4-H Cow, Pig, and Hen Contest” that the show would still be going strong in 2011? By the third year of the show, in 1947, it was called the 4-H-FFA Baby Beef Show and Sale. Later the show was renamed the Fat Stock Show until the 1970s when it became the Market Livestock Show. In the 1990s, the show became the Market Animal Show, the name it retains today.
The event opens with the show dedication at 1 p.m., Wednesday, May 5. Each year the show is dedicated to a long-time supporter of the event whose name will be revealed during the opening ceremonies. The lamb show will begin immediately following the dedication and will be followed by the hog show. Thursday’s events will begin with the steer show at 8:30 a.m.
The Market Animal Show culminates Thursday evening with the Parade of Champions beginning at 5 p.m. Sale of livestock will follow the parade. Area businesses and individuals support 4-H and FFA members by bidding on animals for sale.
Grand Champions and Reserve Grand Champions will be selected from lambs, hogs, and steers. Exhibitors also will compete for $100 U.S. Savings Bonds for the top junior, senior and novice showmanship effort in each species. A number of other awards are given to exhibitors who have excelled in some aspect of the event. Those seven special awards honor individuals who have been instrumental in the show’s history. They are Jim Coffey, J.W. Riley, Jr., George A. Beam, Carl Grove, R.L. Coffey, Alton Lewis, and Vaughn Ashby.
For information about participating as a buyer at this year’s Market Animal Show, call the Augusta County Extension office at 540.245.5750 or visit www.marketanimalshow.org.
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