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return to the ring
Livestock show, auction expected to raise thousands
Months of work will culminate in a showcase of Bastrop County’s best barrows, gilts and goats, as hundreds of local students return to Elgin this weekend for the city’s annual Junior Livestock Show.
The two-day show and benefit runs Jan. 9-10 at the VFW Post 6115 barn, featuring a full slate of livestock competitions and youth fair projects before culminating in a Saturday auction. All proceeds from the auction go directly to participating youth, with no percentage kept by the Elgin Livestock Show Association, according to association president Patrick Maass.
“Last year alone we gave out over $276,000 to the youth competitors,” Maass said. “I’m hoping this year we can go up and increase because we do have 30 more kids.”
Grand and reserve champion animals from all categories and age groups will be sold during the auction.
Once an Elgin-only event, the show has grown significantly since opening its barn doors to all Bastrop County students, according to Maass. The move quickly translated to increased financial support for the young ranchers that trained for the countywide show, now in its fifth year under the current format.
“In just a whopping five years — we went from 27 kids to 160,” Maass said.
Beyond competition, Maass said the event highlights responsibility, resilience and practical skills. Livestock exhibitors manage daily animal care regardless of personal schedules or conflicts, and youth fair participants complete woodworking, metalworking and other projects with documentation.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s cold outside, it doesn’t matter if it’s raining outside — that animal has to eat,” Maass said. “These people are willing to give you thousands of dollars because you did a good job and worked real hard.”
Livestock projects do not go home with buyers, as many exhibitors advance to major shows in Fort Worth, San Antonio, Houston and Austin. Auction proceeds help offset education costs and ongoing expenses, including feed and future animal purchases.
Maass said exposing students to agriculture at a young age helps sustain interest in farming and prepares the next generation to continue it.
“If we don’t continue agriculture or promote agriculture, it’s going to die,” he said. “The simple fact is somebody doesn’t just get into it because it sounded cool. They have to grow up in it.”
The event is also expected to bring an economic boost to the city, drawing families, buyers and supporters from across Central Texas.
The show begins Friday with youth fair check-in from 4 to 6 p.m., followed by rabbit and chicken shows starting at 5 p.m.
Saturday events begin at 8 a.m. with youth fair activities. Goat, lamb, barrow, gilt and cattle shows run throughout the day. Buyer check-in opens at 4 p.m. ahead of the 5 p.m. auction.
