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Farm & Ranch Happenings

published: January 22nd 2010
by: Harvey Buehring

“Wet January Didn’t Dampen Sprits Big Kids
At The Junior
Livestock Show”
    What a difference a year can make!  Last January everyone involved in South Texas agriculture was in need of moisture and praying for wet cold fronts to bring some significant rainfall to the area.  Typically, winter rains seldom bring significant amounts of rainfall to this area of the state.  They are usually the slow and gently soaking type that may only generate a third to a three-quarter of an inch over a two to three day period. If you are lucky enough to catch several of these slow soakers during the winter they will keep the root zone moist and insure that pastures green-up rapidly as spring temperatures prompt warm season grasses to come out of dormancy.  They are also very important to area crop producers because they replenish moisture in the seed bed that is needed to germinate and sustain growth for spring planted grain and cotton crops.  
    Getting moisture of that type a year ago January with follow-up rainfall events during February through May would have been wonderful.  In fact, it could have turn a drought of historic proportions into a nearly average year that was a little on the dry side.  But what was really needed back then was a the type of rainfall event that occurs about every six to eight years during a South Texas winter and keeps every thing boggy until the start of spring.
    Last year’s prayers were answered during Mid -January 2010.  Three days of significant rainfall oc-curred between the 13th and 16th of January.  Many  locations reported between three and a half inches up to six inches during the a three day period.  During the El Nino patterns occurring this winter they became reality around the lower and upper coastal counties, but were only a long-shot wish with last years La Nina conditions.
    It has been my personal observation over the years that when mother nature fails to bless the Nueces County area with some measurable rainfall during the course of its annual Junior Livestock Show dates, (from the second through the third Satur-days of January), it is a bad omen for Coastal Bend agriculture.  Heavy rains returned during mid-January and once again improved the prospects for a productive  spring and good early summer growing season for pasture and field crop producers.  
    This year’s Nueces County Junior Livestock Show was quite successful, despite a  hard freeze on the opening Saturday and three days of wet and almost steady rainfall during the peak days for livestock to be judged.  Thanks to the wonderful all-weather show and exhibit facilities at the Richard M. Borchard Regional Fair-grounds in Robstown, Tx, exhibitors and spectators were only exposed to those weather conditions on the trip from the parking lot to the buildings.
    This was the 75th An-nual Nueces County Junior Livestock Show.   Because of this milestone anniversary a few extra events were scheduled. One of the popular was the “Old-Timers Show-Off Show-manship Contest”.  It turn out to be a real highlight for show alumni from the mid-1940's through the mid-1960's.    About a dozen show Alumni over the age of 60 participated in this event.   They rolled into  the judging arena with a variety of colorful four legged and feathered entries. 
    The feathered entries included a white turkey hen comfortable nesting in a wheel barrow shown by Ruth Ann (Schroder) Weathersby.  She showed poultry projects during  the 1960's , including grand champion capons during that decade.  Her granddaughters are carrying on the family tradition by raising the grand champion turkey at the 2010 show. Three plump broilers nestled in a “little red wagon” pulled along by Eddy Floyd was the other poultry entry.  Mr. Floyd served a couple of terms on the show’s board of directors and as its president during the early 80's. 
    Other four legged entries included a classy gray Brahman heifer shown by Billy Joe Ordner, who first exhibited in 1950 when a couple of tents were used to house projects while construction was beginning on the original county show barn located on the north east side of Robstown.  Leading a neatly groomed and well manned weather lamb raised by her granddaughter was Marry Ann (Raska) Charba, who showed lambs during the early 60's and captured a number of blue ribbons with her sheep projects.
    Two individuals who participated in the 50th Anniversary old-timers show returned to prove that they still had enough showmanship grace to take home a couple of trophies.
    They included Donald Wayne Herrmann from Banquete, TX showing a nicely groomed and well-mannered Shetland pony.  Jack Scarborough, also of Banquete, defended his top Old-Timers showman a-ward earned at the 50th anniversary show by successfully showing a balking two year old ewe in full fleece with the aid of a grocery bag stuffed with hay and a cattle show stick. Scarborough was named top overall showman and Herrmann got the top equine showmanship a-ward.
    About a half dozen gentlemen participated in the swine division.  The top Old-Time hog showman trophy was awarded to Jimmy McCain, who began showing in the late 1940's.  McCain remained very active in the County Junior Livestock Show Associa-tion   serving on the swine committee as a young adult and later served as committee chair, general show superintendent and a term as show president.   More recently,  Mr. McCain worked as the swine committee chairman at the San Antonio Livestock Show, which is one of the largest swine shows in the nation.
    Judging this event was Mr. Les Brandes who first served as Assistant County Agent in Nueces County during 1941 and returned to this position following three years of active  military duty during WWII.  Brandes, who will turn 90 this spring, skillfully critiqued  each of the showman and their entries before naming his top three trophy winners.  Once they were named the “Original Old -Timers Show Queen”, Zelda Draginbottom (Bet-ty McCain) in full costume complete with sash and tiara went into action awarding the trophies to the winners.  She was assisted by Ima Byer, (Laura Berry), the original volume show project buyer who thanked all the Old-Timers Show-Off contestants for being a part of the 75th anniversary show.   
    Honored at the start of the “Old Timers Show-Off” showmanship contest were the two remaining exhibitors from the first show in 1936 who live in Nueces County.  Mr. Eddy Richter and Mr. Ernest Bolland , both of Bishop, TX.  They received gold badges and special caps in recognition of being the original show exhibitors and most tenured alumni returning to the 75th Anniversary Show-Off contest and Old-Timers reception.   
    The week of show activities and anniversary celebrations concluded on Saturday, January 16th when 812 Blue Ribbon animal projects sold during a fifteen hour auction sale that is expected to exceed  just over $1.3 million in sales and added contributions.
SLS