63rd Annual Rockwall Youth Fair coming March 30-April 2

Celebrating Time Treasured Opportunities for Youth

(ROCKWALL, TX – March 9, 2016) March 30 – April 2 marks the 63rd Annual Rockwall Youth Fair at the RISD Agriculture Complex located at 875 Riding Club Road. The purpose of the Rockwall Youth Fair is to promote the education, constructive talents and leadership skills of the youth of the community by conducting clinics, training demonstrations, shows and auction sales for youth and to cooperate with the Rockwall County Extension Service, Rockwall 4-H Clubs, Rockwall FFA Chapters, and other youth organizations of Rockwall Public Schools.

Activities kick off on Wednesday, March 30 with the Agriculture Mechanics Show. FFA and 4-H Clubs from the North Texas area will be participating.

Rockwall Youth Fair will host the annual School Day on Friday, April 1. Rockwall ISD 3rd graders will engage in interactive learning sessions ranging from Learning about farm animals – “Where in the World Did the Animals Come From” to Fun & Easy Gardening – “If I Plant that Will it Grow?” The event is sponsored by Heritage Land Bank with collaborations from Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Farm Bureau. Rockwall 4-H and FFA students will lead tours of the animal project barn and discuss their experiences in raising livestock projects (swine, steers, rabbits, goats, sheep).

Highlight of the Rockwall Youth Fair is the Livestock Show and Market Sale. Young people from across the county in 4-H and FFA will demonstrate their skills and disciplines in breeding and market animals. Livestock Show consists of the following: Market Rabbits, Market Hogs, Market Goats, Market Lambs, Market Steers, Breeding Rabbits, Breeding Market Goats, Breeding Beef, and Market Broilers. Many hours go into the care of each animal. Prior to the show final preparations are made to help the livestock look their best. Youngsters with the assistance of their parents, leaders, county agents, and agriculture teachers learn to wash, dry, and clip and show their animals.

Market Sale is held immediately after the livestock show. An opportunity for the local community to support Rockwall youth involved in agriculture projects, market animals will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. Last year over $55,000 was given back to Rockwall youth as a result of the market auction. Premiums are utilized by participants to save for college and/or to continue next year with another project. The benefit for the buyers is the assurance of a quality meat for the dining table and rewarding a young person for a job well done.

Divisions of the Youth Fair include:

Agriculture Mechanics Show – March 30

Art Show – March 31 – Open to youth in the Rockwall Independent School District. The Art Show will consist of the following categories: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Craft and Mixed Media.

Clothing Show – March 31

Livestock Show:

Friday, April 1, 5:00 p.m. – Breeding/Market Animals – heifers, goats, hogs, lambs, broilers and rabbits.
Saturday, April 2 – 8:00 a.m. – Market hogs, goats, steers, lambs
Premium Sale is held immediately after the livestock show. An opportunity for local community to support Rockwall youth involved in agriculture projects.

“The Rockwall Youth Fair is a fine example of our young leaders of tomorrow presenting their hard work and dedication to success in their future of Agriculture and Agribusiness. It is our responsibility as leaders to offer support and guidance to these students to enable them to achieve their goals. We must always remember that the children are our future and we are their guide,” said Craig Merritt, Rockwall Youth Fair President.

Submitted by Michelle Morris, Rockwall ISD.

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