The finest examples of beef cattle, hogs and breeding ewes in Newton County go head to head on Saturday, Feb. 11, as 4-H’ers and FFA members compete at the Newton Classic Livestock Show.

The free show is open to the public, and begins at 10 a.m. at the Newton High livestock barn, located behind the new brick building.

Children and adults alike will enjoy watching students from second to 12th grade as they exhibit heifers, steers, hogs and lambs in preparation for the state show in Perry.

Students competing are members of either 4-H or FFA and represent Heard-Mixon Elementary School, Mansfield Elementary School, Indian Creek Middle School, Alcovy High School, Eastside High School, Newton High School and Jasper County High School.

Animals exhibited were purchased as early as last summer, and students have worked with their families and advisors to raise and train each animal to look its best.  

Each student may compete in three categories.

Throughout the project, students keep detailed records of feed, training, veterinary care and shows to present in a record book competition.  

In showmanship competition, students compete against other beef cattle, hog or breeding ewe competitors to showcase their best skills.

The way the student interacts with and controls the animal, as well as how well the student prepared the animal, is judged.  Winners earn belt buckles sponsored by Newton County Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer’s Committee.

Finally, the individual animals compete in categories of heifers, steers, swine and breeding ewes for weight class honors in order to determine the overall grand champion in each category.

Throughout the show, concessions will be provided by the Newton-Eastside FFA Alumni Association for purchase.

Whether it will be your first livestock show or your hundredth, I invite you to come out and show support for our local students as they prepare for the final show of the season in Perry.

The Newton Classic Livestock Show would especially like to thank our generous top sponsors: The Piedmont Cattlemen’s Association, Newton County Farm Bureau, Wildflower Farm, the Jasper County FFA Alumni Association and the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center.

We’d also like to thank: Allied Recycling, Inc., Angela Wade, the Benton House, Dairy Queen, the Eason family, Ginn Chevrolet, the Hegwood Family, Heritage Insurance Agency, James and Jane Anderson, Little Springs Farm, Melton Classics, Newton Federal Bank, the Rider Family, Sigman Veterinary Clinic, Snapping Shoals EMC, TM Ewing Farm and JEDT.

Additional sponsors include: Burge Plantation, Cowboy’s BBQ, East Metro OB/GYN, Sharon Hodges, Eastern Wallboard Supply, Inc., Griffin Hills Farm, Hodges Farm, Horse Time, Hy-Line North America, J.C. Harwell & Son Funeral Home, JB HVAC, K&D Shoes, K2 Towing, Longhorn’s Steakhouse, McMichael’s Construction, Neely’s, Newton Eastside FFA Alumni, the Nichols family, One One Coco, Sweet Georgia Brown Hair Salon, Tractor Supply Company, Triple B Farms, Woodward Farm and Your Sister’s Closet.

Business card sponsors are: Prime Auto Finance, Allstate Insurance and Robin Lane, Apple Valley, B.L. Lube & Tire, Baby Cakes Bakery, Betty Neal Cason, Blimpie, Brown Veterinary Services, Buddy Adams of ACS, Burrito Loco, By Design International, Carey Farms, Casi Cowan, Cason Lake Farm, Champion Logging, Color & Style by Missy Skinner, Countryside Veterinary Services, Critical Consults, Elite Sporting Goods, Ellis Farms, Fieldstone Jewelers & Pawn, Five O’Clock Somewhere, Franklin Financial, G.K. Walton & Associates, Glady Creek Grading, Golf Equipment & Club Repair, and Happy J’s. 

Additional business card sponsors are: Hayes Farms, Hayes Furniture Co., Hays Tractor, Hazelbrand Farms, Holland Restoration, Hyatt Farms, J & M Fasteners, Jackie Lindsey of Farm Bureau, James Anderson, Sr., James L. Edgeworth of Farm Bureau, Kimberly Nichols, Leapin’ Lizard Pet Shop, Los Charros, Marc Harber, McKibbens Music, Merle Norman of Conyers, Mill Pond Farms, New Born Taxidermy, the Covington-Newton County Chamber of Commerce, PC Builder, Rockdale Trail Blazers, Roswell Chiropractic Life Center of Conyers, Shear Bliss, Smiley’s Country Buffet, Steve Bishop Taxidermy, Tammie Polston of Hair Motif, the Stanley family, Tina A. Barrick of Farm Bureau, Town & Country General Store, Van Go’s Studio, XSI Disaster Services and Yellow Hen Produce.

Each sponsor is recognized individually in the ad book at the show.  We look forward to seeing you Saturday.

Terri Kimble is the Newton County 4-H Educator through UGA Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at (770) 784-2010 or tkimble@uga.edu.