San Pat A&H Show

San Patricio & Aransas Counties Agricultural & Homemakers Show

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The News of San Patricio

January 2020

Schedule of Events 2020 THURSDAY, JAN. 23 Homemaking Building open to Public 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Judging of Market Hogs 8 a.m.

Division I - Duroc Division II - Hampshire Division III - Crosses Division IV - Yorkshire Division V - Other Purebred Breeds SELECTION OF GRAND AND RESERVE CHAMPIONS Judging of Market Lambs 6 p. m.

Division I - Predominately Southdown or Shropshire Division II - Fine Wool Division III - Fine Wool Cross Division IV - Medium Wool SELECTION OF GRAND AND RESERVE CHAMPION

Ag Mechanics Silent Auction 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Judging of Breeding Beef 1:30 p.m.

Judging of Market Steers 2 p.m.

Division I – British Division II - American Division III - Exotic

Parade of Champions (Homemaking Division, Horse Division, Breeding Animals Divisions) 12:30 p.m.

SELECTION OF GRAND AND RESERVE CHAMPIONS

Auction Sale 1 p.m.

“All Around” Senior Showmanship Contest 4 p.m.

Homemaking Division Check Out by 4-H Club Mangers, FCCLA or FFA teachers 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Ag Mechanics Awards 5:30 p.m.

After Auction Sale Dance

SATURDAY, JAN. 25

Homemaking Building open to Public 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Check out “Take Home” Steers, Lambs, Goats, Poultry, Rabbits not in Auction Sale 8 a.m. until 10 a.m.

FRIDAY, JAN. 24

Judging of Ag Mech Projects 8 a.m.

Judging of Meat Goats 8 a.m.

SELECTION OF GRAND AND RESERVE CHAMPIONS Under Supervision of Chairman “Take Home” Hogs Homemaking Building open to Public 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

(361) 364-2307 218 West Sinton Street Sinton, Texas 78387 www.sintonchamber.org 8am to 5pm Monday - Friday

See whats new in Sinton!

Visit our New Art Gallery at the Chamber

Pickup Hospitality Brochures at Chamber Office Today

Congratulations to all participants!

The News of San Patricio

January 2020

Three

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of a

kind For Sinton’s O’Brien sisters, ag interests reach far beyond A&H Show

From left, Taryn, Taylor and Trinity O’Brien have been participating in the San Patricio & Aransas Counties Agricultural & Homemakers Show since the third grade.

This will be Taylor’s final year and Trinity just won the A&H Show Queen Contest on Saturday.

By Paul Gonzales

O

ne’s about to graduate, one was recently crowned A&H Show Queen and the other is just coming into high school.

Taylor, Trinity and Taryn O’Brien are three Sinton sisters making waves throughout the agriculture world that spans far beyond the San Patricio & Aransas Counties Agricultural & Homemakers Show.

But perhaps we should start from the beginning.

Taylor, the oldest of the clan, has been showing for 10 years now. She started out showing goats, then added lambs, then added steers. But for her final year of high school, she’s going back to basics and just showing sheep and goats.

Trinity, who’s a junior, has been showing for nine years and recently won the A&H Show Queen contest – the first time she has ever entered.

Taryn, the youngest sister, is an eighth grader who’s been showing for six years.

Paul Gonzales photo

They’re third graders, so some of them think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows.

– Trinity O’Brien on teaching Ag in the classroom

“And this year, since I’m queen, I get to give the awards and take pictures with all the little girls who get super excited.”

Taylor added, “And then me and Trinity are Texas 4-H Livestock Ambassadors.

“So basically we get to do a lot more of what we do at the county level, but at the state level. We talk to people at major livestock shows about what agriculture is.”

Trinity explained that it’s more about advocating for agriculture to people who know about what goes into raising animals as well as learning about farming and ranching.

“Were senior San Patricio County ambassadors and Taryn is a junior ambassador,” Trinity said. “Since Together the O’Brien sisters have shown sheep, At the club level, Trinity is the president, Taylor is fifth and sixth grade (Trinity and Taylor) have been goats, steers, pen of two heifers and horses. the vice president and Taryn is the council delegate of doing that and our favorite thing with the ambasOh, and they always participate in the homemaking sadors is putting on the extra special show and we’re Clover T 4-H. And the two oldest are also county council officers who keep all the clubs informed of county show as well. really excited about that this year. Helping with the special needs kids show is really cool.

But that’s not all.

(Continued on Page 4)

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The News of San Patricio

January 2020

The two oldest O’Brien siblings walk their show animals to get them show ready.

Paul Gonzales photo

(Continued from 3)

events as well as community service projects with the Ronald McDonald House, local Trunk or Treats and the annual Ag in the Classroom event.

Trinity said for Ag in the Classroom they get to teach children about agriculture and animals.

“They’re third graders, so some of them think that chocolate milk comes from brown cows,” she said laughing.

As if that wasn’t enough, the girls also hold clinics to help younger members of the show learn and get better at their craft.

“We do a lot of showmanship clinics,” Taylor laughed. “We’ve been showing for nine and 10 years so we have a lot of experience – hours and hours and hours at the barn – so basically what we’ve started doing in the past several years is helping other little kids that are just starting out showing, learn how to show their animals.”

Trinity added, “We’ve had people that taught us how to show and we just kept practicing and working hard at it and so we started working with kids one on one.

“Then eventually we realized that it was helping them do better and they’re having better experiences at the shows.

They’re doing better and doing well.”

The sisters have hosted clinics in Jim Hogg and Karnes counties to Nueces County and everywhere in between.

“Besides the showing aspects, we know that showing has taught us so much about responsibility and leadership and getting these kids to stay in 4-H and FFA,” Trinity said. “That’s our goal, I think, with working with the kids.”

The sisters explained that they began their animal and agriculture endeavors because their grandfather raised horses and cattle with Taylor saying that as soon as she could walk, she was

riding horses and helping her father check on cows out in the field.

“So once she started, me and Trinity realized how cool it was, and wanted to join in” Taryn added.

When they became old enough, Trinity said that at first they wanted to show hogs along with horses, but decided on goats. And since sheep are similar to goats, they came into the mix, then came steers.

Taylor said that once they joined 4-H, she discovered that there’s so much more to do in the organization besides just show animals.

“You also have all the leadership roles that you can do and all the community service that you can do,” Taylor said.

“And more than that, all the other contests and activities that you can do, too.”

Yes, the girls also do livestock judging where Taylor has gone to state (Continued on Page 5)

Good Luck at the 2020 Show!

The News of San Patricio

January 2020

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Taryn, the youngest of the O’Brien sisters, readies her goat by blowing her coat. Just in eighth grade, she has won Grand Champion Steer amongst other big wins.

Paul Gonzales photos

(Continued from 4)

three times and Trinity twice. They’ve also been to nationals in land judging just last year.

Back to the shows, it turns out the girls’ love of all things animal and ag related is paying off.

“I’ve placed second in my class with a goat at (the San Antonio Livestock Show),” Taylor said. “Their classes are about 80 to 200 goats.

“I was second place behind the Reserve Champion of the whole show.

“At the county, I’ve won Grand Champion Lamb, Grand Champion Goat, Reserve Champion Steer. Last year I won the All-Around High Point Saddle for the horse show.

I won Overall Showman my freshman year.

“I’ve also placed with different animals at livestock shows in San Antonio, Houston and Austin.”

Trinity has also won multiple shows with her goats and lambs and credits setting smaller goals at first to winning big.

First it was just to place, then to make the auction

and then to take the top spots at the major shows.

Only nine place in San Antonio and 17 in Houston which means the competition is more than tough.

At the county level, Taryn has won the goat show twice and steer show once.

“Winning the steer show was really cool because before me, we had never actually won the steer show, besides Taylor getting Reserve Grand Champion,” Taryn said. “So that was a really cool experience.”

She also placed first in her class in San Antonio, getting to go on into the division with a goat and placed at state fairs in Houston and Austin.

Taylor said that this is all confirmation that hard work pays off.

It also paved a career path as she’s heading to Texas A&M and will seek a degree in ag business.

She wants to keep working with animals and helping kids show animals, which she calls her passion.

In closing, the sisters each have different things

they want younger kids to learn from their experiences.

“The main thing is that, whether you love animals or you want to just do 4-H, it’s so broad on what you can do now,” Trinity said.

“There’s robotics, there’s the food show, the fashion show, STEM – there’s so many different things you can do if you’re not into the livestock part of it.”

(Continued on Page 6)

Taylor O’Brien will be showing goats, lambs and horses for her final year. She’ll be attending Texas A&M when she graduates and has placed numerous times at county and state shows.

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January 2020

Taylor added, “I think it’s worth it because of what all it’s taught us. It’s taught us to set goals and how to work to achieve them. It’s taught us to be responsible and about sportsmanship because we’re not going to win every time. And it’s taught us humility for when we do.

“It’s also taught us to be leaders and to set a good example.”

Taryn added, “A big part of it for me is the meeting new people that you’ll know for the rest of your life.

“It’s really great.”

Trinity O’Brien has shown horses, steers, lambs and goats throughout her time participating in the A&H Show. She’s also placed at major shows in San Antonio and Houston.

Paul Gonzales photo

The News of San Patricio

The News of San Patricio

BOARD DIRECTORS OF

President............................... John Steelhammer Vice President ...............................Steven Troup Secretary ....................................... Gary Merrell Treasurer........................................John O’Brien Recording ...................... Secretary Sandra Knox Asst. Recording .............. Secretary Alice Luedke Carlos Goad, J. D. Vela, Courtney Schweitzer, Marcus Polasek, Robert Funke, Randy Larson, Jeffrey Sorrells, Jon Whatley, Shelby Merrell, Jason Sides, David Wyatt, Doug Seago, Rob Thomas, Dusty Troup, Larry Baker,III, Lyndi West, Eileen Troup, Homemaking Div., Vocational AG Teacher, Cheryl Handy, County Extension Agents: Kathy Farrow, Bob McCool, Adrian Arredondo, Ginger Easton Smith, Megan Glidden.

IDEAS TO GROW WITH ®

GOOD LUCK IN SHOW! 804 Highway 181, Taft, TX 78390 Office 361.528.5295

January 2020

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The News of San Patricio

January 2020

JUDGES AG DIVISION MARKET STEERS

STEER CLASSIFIER

Ryan Rash, Crockett, Texas

Rogelio Mercado, Alice, Texas

MARKET HOGS

HOG CLASSIFIER

Seth Keplinger, Ohio

Bobby Farias, Calallen, Texas

MARKET LAMBS

LAMB CLASSIFIER

Robert Scott, Lubbock, Texas

Roel Garza, Banquete, Texas

MEAT GOAT

MEAT GOAT SIFTER

Wayne Morse, Lockhart, Texas

BREEDING BEEF JUDGE Ryan Rash, Crockett, Texas

POULTRY JUDGE and SIFTER Dale Hyatt, College Station, Texas

RABBIT Michael Franke, Cedar Park, Texas

RABBIT SIFTER Bobby Clark, Bangs, Texas

Good Luck to the San Patricio A&H Show contestants!

From:

Beeville Publishing Co., Inc.

Rogelio Mercado, Alice, Texas

HORSE Kailyn Capp, Texas A&M

OVERALL SHOWMANSHIP John Lanier, Jourdanton, Texas

Pen of 2 Heifers Joe Shelby, Robstown, Texas

VETERINARIAN Dr. Tobin Pennington, Corpus Christi, Texas

The News of San Patricio

January 2020

Page 9

Brothers in

Farms Three Mathis siblings take on A&H Show, one for the first time

By Paul Gonzales

For seven years, Cesar and Diego have been feeding, cleaning, shaving and prepping hogs for the show, each one wanting to place and possibly make the big sale.

older ones were in school he would be the one with me making sure that the hogs had water and he would do a lot of the work.”

Thiago added, “When I was a little kid, I used to take care of the hogs and always asked my mom when could I show a pig. She said when I get into third grade but I was barely in kinder or first.

‘

“Then she finally said What’s different this this year was my year year is that their younger and I said, ‘Yay!’” brother Thiago will finalThiago said he was ly be joining them inside most excited about finalthe pens. ly getting to show a pig

“They started when they were in the third grade, and they’re freshmen now,” the boys’ mother Belen said about the older brothers. “And then the smaller one, Thiago, this is his first year actually showing, but been out here since he’s was little.

Cesar and Diego (back row) are headed to their seventh San Patricio & Aransas Counties Agricultural & Homemakers Show, but this time their little brother Thiago is coming along to show for the first time.

Paul Gonzales photo

‘

F

or the Gonzales family out of Mathis, the annual San Patricio & Aransas Counties Agricultural & Homemakers Show is a big deal.

The first year I was nervous.

But then it’s just like working the pigs at home.

and he wasn’t nervous because he plays football with the Mathis Youth Football League and one year they went to state ing at us so I’m used to and played at the Dallas it.”

Cowboys stadium.

Cesar recalled his first “No, I’m used to it” he time showing and he said. “I play football and I didn’t have quite the conwent to Dallas and there fidence at first when it “Sometimes when the was a whole crowd look- came to stepping into the

–

ring.

“The first year I was nervous,” he said. “But then it’s just like working the pigs at home.

“I’m also competitive

boys were able to compete in the A&H Show at all.

Currently, Mathis ISD and the family are in litigation due to the fact that the boys refuse to cut off a long strand of hair that Cesar Gonzales they keep because of a but not so much with the religious belief.

Although the boys were person. And I’m grateful if I get third or fourth. I briefly kept from competdo try and I do work with ing in sports and extracurricular activities, a recent them a lot.” injunction has allowed The boys’ mother added that she’s grateful the (Continued on Page 10)

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The News of San Patricio

January 2020 (Continued from 9)

them to continue.

Even though the A&H Show follows a different set of rules, the family still needed permission from the school to allow the boys to show.

“I didn’t want them to take this away from them,” Belen said. “At the last minute the paper was signed and the boys were allowed to participate.

“My boys are always clean-cut and look nice.

No one even notices their hair because they keep it tucked in their collar.”

Belen said the boys have made the sale three times over their seven years at the show and

have placed fourth or fifth several times.

“We’ve been OK; we’ve done good,” she said.

“You know, but as long as long as we’re able to make it to the sale to them it feels like they’ve accomplished a good deal.

“I don’t expect too much of them. I just want them to have the responsibly.

“They get up in the morning and feed, then I’ll come check in the midday, but if they’re off on holidays they come out and they do the midday and then they do the evening and they do all the cleaning.

“I don’t do anything,” (Continued on Page 12)

Congratulations & Best Wishes to all the A&H participants!

We are proud of all of you!

From left, Diego and Thiago Gonzales discuss one of their hog’s weight with their mother, Belen, as they ready for the A&H Show.

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Paul Gonzales photo

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Thiago attempts to move his hog to another pen as Diego fills water troughs. This will be Thiago’s first time showing though he’s helped his brothers for years.

Paul Gonzales photo

January 2020

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The News of San Patricio

January 2020

she laughed. “I just stand here and supervise while they do all the work.”

Belen explained that they all became interested in showing animals when they went with a friend from Skidmore who was showing steers at the A&H Show. They walked around and checked out the animals and how things worked and thought they could make it work.

“It just so happened the following year the boys were going to third grade,” Belen added, “so it fit perfectly.

“We decided to try this and see if we could do it. We did and just stuck with it.”

The boys are even thinking about showing steers next year as well as hogs, but nothing is certain as of yet.

And even though Belen is out there

trudging in the mud and muck with her boys and spending quality time with them, she says it’s the lessons they learn from showing an animal that makes it all worthwhile.

“It shows them how to be dedicated to something,” the mother said. “You have to start with something and follow through all the way to the end of the show.”

She said that they are also responsible for cleaning the pigs, the pens and making sure the pigs are ready to go by show time which puts bumps in their road as far as scheduling goes. They have to make time for fun things like playing video games as well as making sure the hogs are taken care of.

“It gives them all that responsibility,” Belen added, “and it shows them discipline which is what I like.”

Cesar, Thiago and Diego Gonzales weigh one of their eight hogs for the show taking place this week.

Paul Gonzales photo

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January 2020

Page 13

The A&H Show Queen is crowned

The winners from left, Miss Photogenic Lauren Carvajal, 4th runner up Jacqueline Gonce, Miss Congeniality and 2nd runner up Kadence Smith, Queen Trinity O’Brein, 1st runner up Stella Thomas and 3rd runner up Krista Boscamp.

Contributed photos

All the A&H Show Queen contestants from left, Caitlin Sherman, Gillian Hale, Jennifer Garcia, Lauren Carvajal, Jacqueline Gonce, Kadence Smith, Trinity O’Brein, Stella Thomas, Krista Boscamp, Bella Kolmeyev, Macie Holder, Terra McClellen and Paige Adams.

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January 2020

A&H Show Committees ENTRY LIST

QUEEN CONTEST

County Ext. Agents

Stephany Robertson, Chr.

Ag. Science Teacher

LaRhea Southern

Homemaking Teacher

Sandra Knox

4-H Club Managers

Cheryl Handy

GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT David Wyatt

ASST GENERAL SUPT Larry Baker, III

Staci Frerich Carrie Beth Clark Mandy Syamken

RABBITS

The News of San Patricio

Consumer Loans Agricultural Loans Commercial Loans Real Estate Loans Checking Savings Money Market Certificates of Deposit

Marcus Polasek, Chr. Vickie Foley

RESALE ANIMAL John Steelhammer

Rena Johnson Amanda Hays (Continued on Page 15)

San Patricio Electric Cooperative, Inc. Your Touchstone Energy® Cooperatives 361-364-2220 • 888-740-2220 • www.sanpatricioelectric.org

We’re proud supporters of the families and participants at the A&H Livestock Show.

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Odem Sinton NW Corpus Christi Robstown 361.368.2651 361.364.2651 361.241.8808 361.387.4700

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The News of San Patricio

AG MECHANICS J. T. McClellen, Co Chr. Robert Sagar, Co Chr. Keaton West Randy Larson, Jr Ray Witherspoon Cheryl Handy

COMMERCIAL EXHIBITS

January 2020

HOGS Jon Whatley, Chr Kevin Mitchell Kelly Whatley Ray Witherspoon J T McClellen Sam Lankford Cody Lankford Roy Robinette Camilo Barajas

Todd Reopelle Dee Reopelle

John Steelhammer

SHOWMANSHIP

David Wyatt

David Wyatt

CATTLE Jeffrey Sorrells Chr. Adrian Arredondo Gary Merrell Bob McCool Jared Gauldin Hunter Sorrells Mike Kolodziej

Robbie Funke Randy Larson

SHEEP Steven Troup, Chr. George Meeker Robbie Funke Brian Vogt Dusty Troup Toby Frerich

GOATS Robert Funke Chr. George Meeker Gary Fagan John O’Brien Nathan Coates Stacy Decker Lee Decker

HORSE John Atkinson, Chr. Adrian Arrendondo Mark Graham Linda Cox Bob McCool Rhonda Brown Lisa Baylor Michell Atkinson

POULTRY Butch Koether. Co. Chr. Doug Seago,Co Chr Tom Milliren James Polasek

Page 15

Chad Koether

Peggy Ring, Chr.

Sinton FFA

Zac Kay

West Sinton 4-H

Odem FCCLA

Riley Seago

Aransas County 4-H

Blue Ribbon 4-H

Taft FFA

COMMERCIAL HEIFERS

Wildcat 4-H Red Iron Pirates 4-H

Rob Thomas, Chr. Adrian Arredondo Matt Petrus Brian Barniak Will Petrus

FINE ARTS COMMITTEE Susan Dromgoole, Chr.

CLOTHING COMMITTEE TEXTILE COMMITTEE Eleanor Deitz, Chr. Gregory-Portland FCCLA

Aransas Pass FCCLA

Gregory-Portland FFA

John O’Brien

Aransas Pass Jr. FCCLA

Clover T 4-H

BUCKLE

Ingleside 4-H

Odyssey 4-H

Chance Campbell

Shannon O’Brien, Chr. Molly Thomas

HOMEMAKING DIVISION SUPT Eileen Troup

HANDICRAFT COMMITTEE

Rockport Fulton Heritage 4-H Gregory-Portland 4-H Mathis FFA

FOOD COMMITTEE Tiffany Jurach, Chr Sinton High Homemaking

Taft 4-H

PHOTOGRAPHY COMMITTEE Nelda Barajas, Co Chr. Janie Garrett, Co Chr. Mathis 4-H Rocking O 4-H Odem FFA San Pat 4-H Horse

Page 16

The News of San Patricio

January 2020

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