BUCKINGHAM — On Saturday, May 17, the Buckingham County 4-H Livestock Club attended the Piedmont Area Jr. Livestock Show.  The club currently has eight members:  Amanda Bryan, Christopher Espinoza, Jordan Helton, Anna Kyatin, Olivia Kyatin, Grace Moss, Jeff Wise and Tanner Wise.  The club is led by two adult volunteers, Kelly Snoddy and Josh Fleenor. The club also receives support from two Buckingham County Virginia Cooperative Extension Agents, Ruth Wallace (4-H) and Jennifer Ligon (ANR).

The Piedmont Jr. Livestock Show is held every year in May at the Blackstone Livestock Market.  It allows 4-H and FFA youth (ages 9-19) to exhibit in competition beef, swine and sheep and goat projects.  Market project animals are then sold at the auction sale, which follows the show.

In this year’s show, the Buckingham Club members showed market lambs, market hogs, market goats, ewe lambs, a registered heifer, commercial heifers and a cow/calf pair.  There are two categories that are judged:  Showmanship and Market.  In Showmanship, the youth are judged on their appearance and conduct in the show ring.  In Market, the animals are judged on their conformation.  Youth are divided into groups based on their age/experience:  Senior, Intermediate, Junior and Novice.  Animals are separated into various weight classes.

The Buckingham 4-H Livestock Club was very proud of all their members.  Their performance was outstanding.  Christopher Espinoza received the Grand Champion Pair of Market Lambs and the Grand Champion Intermediate Hog Showmanship Award.  Tanner Wise received the Grand Champion Jr. Goat Showmanship Award and the Reserve Champion Ewe.  Amanda Bryan received the Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair.  Grace Moss received the Grand Champion Intermediate Beef Showmanship Award.

During the months leading up to the Show, the Livestock Club members strive to raise animals that develop into a well-balanced market or breeding animal and work with the animals in proper show ring behavior.  The show and sale provide an opportunity for youth to learn responsibility, awareness of the importance of the agricultural industry in our area, healthy competition and cooperation with their peers.

Sponsorship is a main component of the Show.  There are certain expenses required to run the show such as:  ribbons, trophies, premiums for show classes, insurance, photography expense, show judge and exhibitor picnic expense.  The entry fees submitted by each member for their show animals cover these costs.

The members were sponsored by the following local businesses:  Agrarian Veterinary Services; Augusta CoOp-Scottsville; Berk-Mar Farm; Buckingham Branch Railroad; Buckingham Cattlemen’s Association; Buckingham Farm Bureau; Buckingham Family Dentistry; Cape School; C&C Motors Inc.; CH Morris and Sons; Circle B Cattle Company – the Bramhall Family; Colonial Farm Credit; Cumberland Building Supply; DavidWise.com Insurance LLC; Foster Tire Company; Gilliam Motors Inc.; Goin Family Farm LLC; Heaven’s Edge Farm; H. E. Wise & Son Farm; Herbert E. Maxey, Jr. Attorney-at-law; James A. Myers; Kathleen Jones; Lar-Lynn Farms, LLC; Moss Motor Company; Mullin’s Auto Body; Nancy’s Unique Gifts; New Images Hair Design; The Pines Farm; Rocky Hill Farm; Seay Milling & Machinery Co.; Slate River Veterinary Clinic; Sprouse’s Garage Inc.; Thunder Road Auto Sales LLC; Wise Ridge Country Store and Whetstone Farm.

The Buckingham 4-H Livestock Club thanks the businesses that supported the members and their show animals for the 2015 Show.  It would not have been a success without those contributions.  The members thank their parents.  Parental support is crucial to the success of the club.  These parents spend countless hours assisting the youth with their animals, chauffeuring them to club meetings, hauling the animals to show, and more.

New club members are always welcome.  Contact the Buckingham Extension Office at (434) 969-4261, if you are interested.