Coryell County Fair runs through Saturday, Cove students bringing home ribbons

By LYNETTE SOWELL 

Cove Leader-Press 

The annual Coryell County Youth Fair got under way on Wednesday, with students from FFA and 4-H Clubs throughout Coryell County submitting entries with the hopes of winning ribbons, and possibly belt buckles, banners, and ultimately money to help with future projects. 

On Tuesday, students had the opportunity to check in entries to include art, photography, handcrafts, as well as home economics projects to include preserved food, baked goods, sewn apparel, needlework, and textiles. By Wednesday evening, the entries had been judged and ribbons awarded, and the cattle judging had taken place.

Yesterday saw the competitions for rabbit and goats, with the livestock portion of the show wrapping up Friday night with the swine judging, after poultry and goat judging takes place during the day. 

Wednesday evening, Copperas Cove High School senior and Copperas Cove FFA student Abby McWhorter learned the results of her home economics and handcrafted entries. McWhorter took second place with her repurposed frame, and her bread and fudge both took fifth place in the senior division. On Thursday, her rabbit was judged (results not available as of press time).

But Friday evening, she will show two of her three pigs, Hollyhock and Astrid, in what could be one of the last fairs of her school years. If either of her pigs win grand or reserve champion in their respective categories, she’ll qualify for the auction and a chance to compete at other stock shows in Texas. For McWhorter and her family, it is the end of more than a decade of showing pigs, with her older brothers, David and Michael, also having shown pigs through their high school years. Abby said she has been showing pigs since she was in 3rd grade, and has always named them after a flower. 

The Five Hills 4-H Club started a fresh collection of ribbons at this year’s fair, with Lillie Valdez taking home the Reserve Grand Champion ribbon for her bar bookies. Cooper Aulabaugh’s counted cross-stitch took 2nd place for intermediate needlework. Trinity Aulabaugh also brought home a ribbon for her machine-quilted Texas quilt.  

Brothers Matthew and Zachary Petty will also be walking the stage on Saturday night with their grand and reserve grand champion entries. Matthew’s bread took Reserve Grand Champion, and he received a 3rd place for his handcrafted sign. Zachary’s boots were awarded Grand Champion and 1st place in the Intermediate Decorated Apparel category, and his handspun and dyed yarn took Grand Champion and 1st place, and his knitted scarf took 2nd place. Of note, although Zachary has competed for several years and he has won 1st place ribbons, this is the first year his entries qualify for the premium buyer’s auction on Saturday.

Saturday night, he will join the other students with entries which receive Grand or Reserve Champion on the platform in the Gatesville Civic Center for the premium auction. 

The auction will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a ceremony and special awards, with bidding commencing at 6 p.m., at the Gatesville Civic Center, located at 301 Veterans Memorial Dr. in Gatesville.

During the auction, bids are accepted for the students’ entries, with all proceeds going to the students who will use the funds for future projects. Or, in the case of Abby McWhorter and other high school seniors, they can use the funds for college. 

A full list of winners to this point in the fair was not available as of press time Thursday, but after the fair wraps up Saturday night, there will be more results in the special Coryell County Youth Fair section of the Leader-Press’ Jan. 17 publication.