73 Years of Showmanship: SU Ag Center Host 73rd Annual Livestock and Poultry Show

The Southern University Agricultural Center held the 73rd Annual Livestock and Poultry Show at the Maurice A. Edmond Livestock Arena off of Highway 61 on March 3- March 5. The arena was a home and platform for many young participants. Past ribbon holders of the show as young as the age of seven in hopes of winning a ribbon, silver platters, rosettes and premiums in each competition that they signed their livestock up for. In order to participate in these events, each participant that planned to enter a goat, lamb, cow or hog they owned and cared for had to have a show report and Animal Health Certificate turned into the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center Livestock Program Office on the start of the three-day event on Thursday at 8 AM.
The first day of the event was the official sign up and weigh in day for all participants and owners of livestock. Before any competition could get underway, professional veterinarians gave each animal a health screening, ensuring that they were ready to compete. On the second day, most of the judging of showmanship took place for each division and age group. Participants like ten year old, Chole Ellerd of Benton, Louisiana competed in her division with her goat expecting to take home a prized ribbon.
“I definitely enjoyed the show. I was nervous when I came to the competition but I expected to do good since this was my first show. I planned to enter again next year with my goat,” said Ellerd.
Other participants like 14-year-old, Hunter Sims of Winn Parish says that he enjoyed being competitive and taking care of his goat.
“I enjoyed the show and I enjoyed doing what I do. I really had fun,” said Sims.
There were also some students from Southern University in attendance, who enjoyed the scene of the competition. Freshman Animal Science major, Brittany Simon of Opelousas commented on the animals’ care and the show as a whole.
“The show as a whole was very interesting. The animals that were brought out were very well groomed and well taken care of. I really enjoyed seeing the young people showcase their animals. It is more than just a competition, but it is a character builder.”
This year’s program was put on by the following Livestock Staff Committee: Interim Chancellor Adell Brown, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor of Extension Gina E. Eubanks Ph. D., Livestock Program Interim Director Curtis Chisley, Farm Superintendent Eugene Runles, Office Coordinator Decobea Butler, Administrative Assistant Joyce Tubbs, Extension Associate Egbe, M. Ed. According to Eubanks, the event is about preparing the younger generation and getting them involved in a positive environment.
“I believe and know it is about the youth. It is an opportunity for the youth from all across Louisiana to show off their prize animals and they come with a great bit of pride knowing that they worked so hard to care for their animals throughout the year as far as preparing for the show,” said Eubanks. Eubanks said that it allows children at a young age to take the responsibility in caring for an animal either from birth or at the early stages of development. This gives the child the chance to learn or develop what it means to take care for not only animals but for themselves.
“Everything you do for an animal, you have to do the same for the human body and that child takes that responsibility on.”
Eubanks said each participant’s animal are judged on the same scale and the judges know what to look for in picking the best “well taken care of” animal that is fit to win the prizes offered at the show. She commented that the judges for each competition are not handpicked from Southern University, but from surrounding parishes and states. Eubanks also mentions that there is more than just prizes to win. The participants and children in attendance would learn about the different animals, different food sources they provide, farming and information they might need about agriculture.
“This is a knowledge based educational program because the children are not thrown out there without guidance, there are certain things you do. You have to know how much to feed them and how to groom them. Just like we clip our fingernails and take care of our hair, the same has to happen for these animals,” said Eubanks
According to Eubanks, the Department’s livestock show is the only show that has continued to showcase to this present-day and is ran by an HBCU. However, the show is affected by budget cuts and will need donations to help keep the non-profitable program stable. Also, the few members that are on staff multitasks, so the objective is to work as a team to make the project possible. Although, the program has been through many struggles, it has managed to cater to the youth with petting zoos, community outreach program and a plethora of opportunities to educate and prepare them. She also comments that most of these students that participate in the program attend Southern as their college of choice.
“The opportunity in participating in our programs is to learn about agriculture. It’s an opportunity to learn where your food comes from. The exposure that you would get from learning and working in this field would lead to more and more opportunities. Agriculture runs deep,” finished Eubanks.