Show time!

The Jack County Fair and Livestock Show is coming up next week. Students from throughout the county will show sheep, goats, rabbits and beef exhibits as well as hundreds in the creative arts portion of the fair.

Jack County AgriLife Extension Agent Charlie Martin said preliminary numbers for participation in the show look good.

“It’s my understandind the numbers will be pretty steady compared to what they have been being over the last four years,” Martin said.

The show format has not changed much with one exception, the fair now has a new facility to incorpate into the show. The Jack County Fair Association completed the addition of an open arena on the grounds in September. 

The 11,250 square-foot covered arena has hosted a few shows since its completion and for the county show it will hold at least some of the agricultural mechanics exhibits.

“Some of those projects are very large. In the past, we’ve had to park them in the parking lot, the big trailers and things,” Martin said. “Those kids plan to take those down the road after the county show and exhibit them at other shows. The new barn will help protect the projects from weather exposure or potential damage in the parking lot.”

He added that the addition of the new barn will allow for some growth in participation for livestock and that growth will determine future use of the barn.

Also new this year, the Jack County Fair Association will award its scholarships to selected recipients before the auction. The fair association selects three applicants from each of the Jack County schools to each receive $500 scholarships.

“We just wanted to tie the two together, we thought it would be neat to do it at our auction in conjunction with our premium sale,” said Garland Easter, Jack County Fair Association president.

The show begins for exhibitors Wednesday with the barn opening at 8 a.m. and weigh-ins beginning at 4 p.m.

The show will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday with rabbits with swine following at 5 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 12 will kick-off with the ag mechanics show beginning at 9 a.m. meat goats will also show at 9 a.m. followed by breeding does, sheep, heifers and steers.

The arts and crafts schedule will take entries from 4-6 p.m. Wednesday. Food entries will be taken from 4-6 p.m. Thursday. Judging will follow immediately on each day. The exhibits may be viewed by the public from 8 a.m. to noon Friday.

The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday.

School schedules will allow for extra time at the fair barn the week of the show. Both Perrin-Whitt CISD and Jacksboro ISD students will have an early release Thursday, Jan. 11 and there will be no school Friday. There will be no school for Bryson students both Thursday and Friday.

Martin said he looks forward to a good crowd for the county livestock show and fair.

“Like every year we look forward to seeing everybody come out to support the kiddos and their projects and their efforts throughout the year,” he said.