2023 Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show begins Friday

The 2023 Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show kicks off this Friday, March 10, and concludes this Saturday, March 11, at the Nixon Smiley Livestock Show Barn and Arena on East Central in Nixon.

“Our mission is to support our youth who are involved in the farming and ranching way of life so they can learn the importance of agriculture in our society,” show directors said in a letter last month. “We sincerely appreciate your support in this mission. Thank you very much for your consideration!”

Last year, there were 70 exhibitors at the show who presented nearly 100 projects and the auction raised more than $207,000 with more than $39,000 in add-ons, which represented a show record while eclipsing the 2021 marks of $197,815 and $26,195.

Participants will check in their projects beginning at 2 p.m. Friday and then judging begins with broilers, roasters, turkeys, market rabbits and fryer rabbits starting at 6 p.m. Friday in the arena and layered cakes, crafts and Ag mechanics in the barn.

Judging continues at 9 a.m. Saturday with market hogs, market lambs, market goats, market steers, local bred steers and 4-H Clover bucket calves.

The buyers’ buffet and registration then begins at 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by the auction at 5 p.m. Joey Tomlinson will once again serve as auctioneer, hoping to make sure each exhibitor gets top dollar from their projects.

All participants then are required to take part in the mandatory clean-up of the arena and show barn at 8 a.m Sunday, March 12.

Anyone who cannot attend the show in person can show their support through the Buyers' Pool. Contact either Harold Rice (830-534-6682) or Clint Martin (830-660-6398) for details and information about how to contribute to the Buyers' Pool. Add-ons are another way to contribute, which are dollars that are added-on above the actual sale price of the projects and go directly to exhibitors. For add-on information, please contact Jaci Wheat (830-203-0238).

Buyers’ Pool donations and add-ons can be mailed to Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show, PO Box 554, Nixon, TX 78140.

Anyone interested in being a vendor at the show can contact Laura Swenson (830-203-9901) or Jessica Garcia (830-534-9561) for vendor information.

Judges for the 2023 show include:

• Anthony Netardus:  Sift

• Benny Conn: Ag Mech 

• Wayne Bender:  Rabbits

• Jeff Hanselka: Poultry

• Elsie Lacy: Cakes/Crafts

• Micah Walker: Livestock

In order to take part in the Nixon-Smiley Livestock Show, an exhibitor must be a full-time student in grades 3-12 and not have graduated or completed a GED program. They must either be in home school or in school at Nixon-Smiley CISD and either reside in the Nixon-Smiley CISD or attend school there.

Exhibitors must be a member in good standing of at least one of the following clubs: Nixon 4-H Club, Smiley 4-H Club, Leesville 4-H Club, Nixon-SmileyFFA and/or Nixon-SmileyFCCLA and cannot be expelled, suspended or enrolled in alternative school any time after Jan. 1 in the calendar year of the show.

Also, each exhibitor must volunteer four hours of community service at the show grounds prior to the livestock show check-in and they are required to write hand-written thank you notes to each buyer of his/her project or to any add-on buyer the exhibitor receives. Any exhibitor awarded a medal, buckle, vest or rosette also is required to write a hand-written thank you note to each donor of the award.