The Karnes County Youth Show will be trying out several new things this year in an attempt to make the show even better for buyers, sellers, and show-goers alike January 18 through 20 at the Karnes County Youth Show Barn.

The largest change will be the time of the main event; the Saturday night auction where all the champions and their animals participate in a premium sale.

In an attempt to give everyone more time in the evening, the auction will be starting at 3 p.m. — two hours earlier than in previous years.

"The reason they’re doing that is to try to not have it done so late so if they buyers want to go get some dinner, something might still be open. If you start at 5, it’s always over around 10 or so and everything’s closing down," Karnes County Agriculture Extension Agent Dennis Hale said. "As it gets late, even on a mild night, it starts to get a little cold in that barn and it starts to get uncomfortable. A lot of the buyers and families want to go out afterward when the show’s over and have a sit-down meal."

Another big change to the event will be the addition of a show turkey competition. Right after the judges are finished picking winners in the broiler category, they’ll take a look at show turkeys raised by local youths this year.

The birds won’t be in the auction this time around, but the judges will pick a grand and reserve champion and winners will get belt buckles and prize money.

"We don’t really want to add more stuff to the sale, but they’re kind of like on a probationary period," Hale explained. "They’re going to be shown this year, they’ll be given prize money and some belt buckles for grand and reserve just like the other market animals, the only difference is they won’t be in the auction. If it grows, it may be something that will go in the auction one year."

So far, around 12 turkeys have been entered into the competition.

Contest entries all around are either up or stable in 2007. Market hog entries have gone up slightly, but the number of halter steers being shown has increased dramatically.

Steers normally attract the biggest buyers at the show and judges this year will have plenty to choose from when picking a pair of champions.

"About 10 years ago, we were down to 18 halter steers in the county show. Families were getting out, graduating, and it just wasn’t happening. This year, there’s 74 halter steers entered in the county show. That’s a huge boost, even over last year (when) there were 52," Hale said.

Livestock weigh-ins and sifting will start at noon January 18, followed by broiler weigh-ins at 1 p.m. and the commercial steer weigh-in at 3 p.m. The broiler, turkey, and goat shows will take place later in the afternoon between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The foods division is seeing a stable number of entries, but interest in the handicrafts division has gone up, in part due to the welding competition. The art of creating barbecue pits and other types of functional metal art has become popular in recent years.

Youths will check in their handicrafts at noon January 18. Food entries will check in the following day starting at 7 a.m. Judging of all the food and handicraft entries will take place shortly thereafter at 9:30 a.m.

The lamb show will follow at 10 a.m., followed by the breeding cattle show at noon, the commercial steer awards at 3:45 p.m., and the hog show at 4 p.m.

The sale of handicraft and non-champion food items will take place 8:30 a.m. January 20, followed by the homemaking awards presentations at 2 p.m. just before the auction begins.

See page A9 for a complete schedule of this year’s Karnes County Youth Show.