It took countless volunteers to make the Youth Show a fun and meaningful experience for the young people in Blanco County. Students, parents and other volunteers showed up for two workdays prior to the show to begin barn preparations. Rule Books for exhibitors were prepared by Martha Danz.

The Awards Committee, headed by Keitha Johnson, ordered duffel bags, jacket certificates, and buckles for the champion exhibitors, and buyer appreciation gifts for the buyers. Generous local businesses and individuals sponsored the 78 awards. Buyer’s mugs were donated by Cattleman’s National Bank and Harvest House Farms. Johnson City Bank donated the champion buyer’s caps. Ribbons and prize money were sorted for the placing turkeys, broilers, rabbits, goats, sheep, swine, cattle and shop projects. During the show, Thursday and Friday, students volunteered in the show ring to distribute the awards to the deserving exhibitors.

This year’s judges and classifiers did an excellent job, along with the superintendents that supervised each activity. Office volunteers, along with Youth Council secretary Peggy Wallace, worked non-stop on computer entry in preparation for Saturday’s Sale. Sandwiches for workers and volunteers were provided by Keitha Johnson. Robert Peterson donated his time to copy hundreds of Sale Programs.

Volunteers, led by David and Pam Moore, and Darrell and Melodie Noah, stayed late Friday night lending their muscle and decorating talents to create Saturday’s spectacular sale ring.

The hospitality room for Saturday’s sale was organized by Michael Klepac. Generous donations for the Hospitality Room were received from Hill Country Liquor in Blanco. Monica McCormick with Farm Bureau Insurance in Blanco provided buyer’s complimentary koozies for supporting our Blanco County Youth Show.

Judge Terry Carter and Red McCombs Ranches sponsored the complimentary buyer’s lunch and dinner. Melvin Sultemeier, Tammie Marrs, Frank & Brenda Haynes, and Anson Haynes, as always, did a tremendous job preparing the meals.

Pam Meier, Pam Nabers and Sandi Thompson organized the buyer registration table, while Melvin Moreland’s family signed up kids under the age of 9 for the Little Britches Goat Show. Participants received a ribbon and gold dollar donated by Johnson City Bank.

Volunteer auctioneers, Charles Jones, Jr. and Tim Jeanes, along with their assistants helped the sale generate $272,325! Buyers added $24,160 for a total of $296,485 for the county’s youth. Randy Sultemeier, Darrel Wagner, Todd Swift and Tim Jeanes kept the 5 hour sale fun and entertaining. The top 5 Business / Group Buyers were Tech Con Trenching, Inc., South Texas Friends, Sale Committee, Johnson City Bank, and Odiorne Feed. The top 5 Individual Buyers were David O’Bannon, Pat and Becky Baker, Will and Peggy Wallace, Monica McCormick, and Ron Young.

The Sale Committee will meet in the next week to figure additional add-ons from the Wild Game Dinner proceeds.

From start to finish the Blanco County Youth Show is such a successful event due to many, many volunteers and generous contributors.

The Blanco County Youth Council invites all members and other interested persons to attend their Annual Meeting, which is usually the end of February or first on March at the Blanco County Fair Grounds Exhibit Hall in Johnson City. This is the annual meeting where items may be brought before the Board of Directors for consideration of a rule or policy change. Other suggestions for improvement of the Youth Show will also be discussed. In addition, Director positions whose terms are expiring will be up for election. Nominations to fill these positions will be made from the Nominating Committee and will also be accepted from the floor. Directors who are elected must be paid members of the Youth Council. Also, in order to vote at the annual meeting you must be a paid member. Dues for membership in the council shall be $5. per person per year ($30 per person, $50 per couple, for lifetime membership). This membership fee being due seven days prior to the annual meeting. Please call 833-5335 for more information.