Students compete this week in Coryell County Youth Fair

By BRITTANY FHOLER
Cove Leader-Press

The annual Coryell County Youth Fair kicked off for another year Monday, with 62 exhibitors participating from Copperas Cove. 
The week started with students bringing their Home Economics projects to be checked in on Monday and ready for judging on Tuesday.  These projects ranged from edible treats like cookies, cupcakes, cakes, brownies, bars, jams, jellies, pickled items and more to apparel to woodworking to jewelry to photography and more, with a Pee Wee Home Economics portion for younger kids and then the junior and regular home economics for the older kids. 
“Due to our non-traditional Ag community within the Copperas Cove FFA, I highly encourage all of our members to enter into the home economics show at Coryell County Youth Fair,” said Copperas Cove FFA advisor Kristin Kasper. “There are hundreds of project options for students to choose from, which gives ALL of our members a chance to compete at our county show and hopefully make it to action and earn money for their hard work. In addition to having a competitive event on their resume, students get to see the livestock show and support our other members. All in all, the fair is my favorite time of year! Seeing the kids so excited and ready to show off all of their hard work makes the late nights and early mornings all worth it.”
Students brought their rabbits in for check-in starting on Tuesday to prepare for the judging Wednesday morning. Other students also brought their livestock, such as sheep, swine and goats for check-in on Wednesday. Thursday included the judging of sheep and lambs. The fair continues through today, where exhibitors will include all poultry before moving onto the different goats and finishing with swine.  Tomorrow, the fair will conclude with a Pee Wee rabbit show at 9 a.m. and a Pee Wee goat/lamb show at 10:30 a.m. 
There are a total of 62 exhibitors from Copperas Cove, either participating through the Five Hills 4H or the Copperas Cove FFA chapter. 
The Copperas Cove FFA chapter has 45 students entered into the fair. These students are under the advisement of Kasper and Katie Grigsby. The Copperas Cove FFA students participated in Home Economics, rabbits (breeding and market), swine (breeding and market), goats (dairy and market), sheep (breeding and market) and poultry this year. 
“Preparing for County can be a little stressful. So many kids in so many categories can be a lot to keep up with and plan, but the excitement of seeing these kids in the show ring and hopefully make sale is such a big reason for the joy in this job,” said Grigsby. 
Students and their projects (either animal or home economics projects) are judged, with a goal of hopefully placing and earning a ribbon or more.  Those who earn a Grand or Reserve Champion are eligible for the premium auction to be held Saturday evening. 
Dozens of local businesses, individuals and even groups like the Copperas Cove Buyers Club (which raises funds each year solely to bid on Copperas Cove exhibitors at the County Youth Fair) will be at the auction to bid on the items, but the auction is open to the public.  
While the home economics items can go home with the highest bidder, the livestock portion of the auction is a symbolic way of showing support for the students. The bidder does not get the animal, but the money spent goes directly to the student as a reward for their hard work. This money is often either put back into the livestock animal or put towards college, for the graduating seniors. 
The auction begins at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday 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.
A full list of winners up to this point in the fair was not available as of press time Thursday, however 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. 21 publication.