KC Agriculture Club racks up awards at Houston Livestock Show

The Kilgore College Agriculture Club competed in Houston, seen here taking First Place in the cow/calf pair competition. Pictured from left are Rich Hannum, Brandon Reynolds, Shane Shaw, Corey Shipp, Kendall Koch and Hannah Bryce.

The Kilgore College Agriculture Club racked up several awards at the annual Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo March 3-6.

The club was awarded the Good Herdsmanship award and walked away with Division Champion and First in Class with its cow-calf pair. According to judging guidelines on the livestock show's web site, the Good Herdsmanship award is given to the exhibitor with the best kept exhibit concentrating on its condition and appearance.

"It (the Good Herdsmanship award) is a very prestigious award," said Bob Young, KC agriculture instructor and Demonstration Farm manager. "As usual, the show was very competitive."

The club also won fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place awards for heifer entries.

"Our cattle looked great and we had several compliments on how we represented Kilgore College," said Hannah Bryce, Ag Club secretary.

The Houston Livestock show was the KC Ag Club's last show of the season.

"Being the last show of the season, I feel like it was a success," Bryce said. "We went out with a bang!"

The KC Ag Club has been selected TJCAA "Chapter of the Year" nine of the past 12 years and has had two state officers elected eight of the past 12 years. Members travel across the state to participate in competitive events.

The club annually participates in dozens of events from coordinating breed association judging events, supervising FFA and 4-H judging contests, assisting with the Bull Evaluation Center, constructing awardwinning Christmas parade floats and many other service activities in the area. Membership is open to all students, regardless of major.

According to Young, all agriculture students are urged to participate in the club, a member of the Texas Junior College Agriculture Association (TJCAA), a highly competitive state-wide organization of about 15 community colleges that teach agriculture courses.

The program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain employment in the field of farm and ranch management.

For more information, contact Young at (903) 834-6255 or e-mail him: ryoung@kilgore. edu.