Brandie McLane shows her market poultry project to win Grand Champion at Wednesday
night's Miller Grove International Show.

 

"Miller Grove International Show"
Unfolds in Preparation for Youth Market Show

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

Miller Grove FFA member, McKenzie Taylor, smiles proudly as her market swine project
was named Grand Champion of the Miller Grove International Stock Show, Wednesday night.
In the background are supporters of all ages from the Miller Grove community who attended
the show.

 

"Things are popin' in Miller Grove!" exclaimed one resident, on Wednesday night. "This stock show with about 70 animals and the boy's basketball team in the play-offs, about makes for as exciting as it gets, in this community!"

Wednesday night was the annual "Miller Grove International Stock Show," held each year, the night before the animals leave for the Hopkins County Youth Market Show. "It's a time for everyone in the community to have a great time, get their animals ready, enter into some community competition, wins awards for hard work, and sit down and eat a bowl or two of Hopkins County Stew," exclaimed veteran Miller Grove Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Richard Watson. "We come-up with the idea a few years ago, when we were frantically running all over the community trying to get all the animals collected and readied for the county show. With so many animals, it seemed that there had to be a better way to do things. That's when we decided to solicit the help of the community and bring the animals to the school, have a show, and a good time for everyone!"

 

Veteran Miller Grove Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Richard Watson,
gives instructions to his students in getting their animals ready for Wednesday
night's show in Miller Grove.

 

 

And, Wednesday night was definitely a "good time" in Miller Grove, as the entire community turned-out to support the community's youth, eat some of the big pot of stew that Lewis Russell (Award Winning Chili Cook) and friends, had prepared and show their animals before family, friends, and community members. "We don't have any kids or grandkids showing anymore, but we just enjoy coming out and seeing all the kids and their projects," expressed one elderly couple from Miller Grove, who were in attendance. "It's just great to see everybody and to see these kids that work so hard and make us feel vibrant and alive!"

 

 

"Meanwhile, it gives us the opportunity to make sure that all the animals are clipped, that the necessary paperwork, and all the supplies are ready to move to the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, tomorrow," allowed Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Lindsey Potts. "We can 'take a second look' and have the weights of the animals recorded, know which ones need to be fed just a little bit more, and those that are 'going to have to go on a diet' before the weigh-in, in Sulphur Springs!"

 

Miller Grove FFA student Dakota Hrabal exhibits his swine project
to win his class at Wednesday night's show.

 

 

These Miller Grove FFA students are waiting their turn to show their animals in the show.

 

Watson and Potts had "called on" their friends from vocational agriculture departments, out-of-county, to come and serve as judges, for Wednesday night's events. "These friends and teachers in other departments around Northeast Texas, will offer the students tips in showing, will point-out things that still need to be done to the animal, and offer them some advice that will possibly mean the difference at the County Show!"stated Watson.

 

 

 

Cody Jennings, Miller Grove FFA member, exhibits his HampshireX pig to
win its class, on Wednesday night, in Miller Grove.

 

"And, it's great experience for those Junior FFA members and other youth showing for the first time," inserted Potts. "It gives them an advantage of showing their animal before the 'hometown' crowd and learning what to do, long before they are thrown in a class of 25 to 30 others, at the show in Sulphur Springs!"

 

Students and parents discuss the necessary preparations need to be completed before the animals
are to be taken to the show in Sulphur Springs.

 

 

Miller Grove FFA member Shaye-Lynn Emerick exhibits her class
winning swine project in the Showmanship Class, Wednesday night.

 

Miller Grove was definitely "alive" with animals, parents, grandparents, and supporters, on Wednesday night, as a packed crowd attended the event and enjoyed a gathering of community friends and family, all in support of the community's youth. "You don't get any better than that!" exclaimed Watson. "When you have your community come out and build-up the students, let them know that their hard work has been noticed, and offer them some donated prizes for their efforts, it builds self-confidence and gets them ready for the much larger Hopkins County Show and the major show at Houston, in a couple of weeks. It's a great time for everyone!

 

Aaron Smith shows his market swine project in the middle-weight class
at Wednesday night's Miller Grove Show.

 

 

Watson and Potts, along with parents and students, began bringing their animals to the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, on Thursday morning, and the students will be among the top county participants in this years NETLA Market Show, with the self-confidence built back at home, on Wednesday night!

 

Cayle Watson and Nicole Hall exhibit their market lambs before the judge, at
Wednesday night's Miller Grove International Show.

 

Congratulations, Miller Grove FFA!!!

 

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