After months of working with animals and grooming them for hours to get them to look their best for the show, the competitors had just minutes to convince the judges to pick their animals as the best. That is the thing about showing an animal. It takes a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of money for a little bit of time in the ring. But when the judge shakes a hand and a buckle is won – it is all worth it.
The first annual Charles Traylor memorial Prospect Show was Nov. 9 at the park bearing the same name. The event has a special place in the community’s heart.
“The show was named after Charles Traylor, a figure in our community for many years,” ag teacher Amanda Traylor said. “His presence was felt throughout the barn over the weekend as we honored him, his service to our community and the legacy he left behind. Many members of his family and many friends joined us as the weekend progressed.”
A simple routine, now filled with love and support from the community, shows how much empathy they still carry with themselves.
“A prospect show is for 4-H and FFA members to show their livestock projects on the weekends, in order to prepare for the county fair,” senior Levi Risner said. “To prepare for the shows, you wash your animals and teach them how to walk in the show ring.”
This was the first year for FFA to host a prospect show
“The Willis FFA chapter members volunteered to assist with the show and help everything run smoothly,” Risner said “My job this weekend was to be in the show ring and help get kids in the right place.”
This meet wasn’t just about winning but also about gaining experience.
“The most rewarding part was that I know my heifer and I did our best, and now I know what I need to work on to get better,” junior Aubrie Cameron said. “It was my first time showing my heifer.”
The show gave Willis students a chance to gain experience. The FFA members also served as hosts for the many exhibitors from other FFA and 4-H programs.
“This is the first event of this caliber that the FFA has hosted, and it was a huge success,” Traylor said. “The show hosted 479 entries over the two days, including 107 Market Hogs, 50 Market Lambs, 57 Market Goats, 63 Breeding Heifers and 27 Market Steers. Student exhibitors came from all over the area to participate in the show. We had entries from Katy, Jersey Village, Tomball, West Hardin, Santa Fe, Diboll, Madisonville, CyFair, Deer Park, Alvin, Franklin, Silsbee and Joaquin, as well as many from the Montgomery County area.”
