The Karnes County Youth Show will kick off Jan. 17 and event organizers are looking forward to doing the show’s first year using the new facilities.

The $100,000 worth of improvements have been a welcome addition to the show grounds during other events like Lonesome Dove Fest and Karnes County Agriculture Extension Agent Dennis Hale said this year’s Youth Show will be a lot more comfortable for everyone.

"The highlight of the show this year will be the improvement of the facilities. It’s all set up so pretty and nice, now. Everybody’s excited about the new facilities. Everybody’s just said, ‘We needed this ten years ago,’" he said.

The outdoor animal pens have been replaced and the men’s and women’s restrooms have been upgraded extensively. Not only is there more space, but the restrooms themselves have heating and air conditioning.

Other new additions to the show like last year’s turkey competition also will be back.

In addition to the increase in comfort at the show grounds, the show itself is seeing another increase in participation this year.

"Our show has really gotten stronger in all our divisions," Hale said. "Everything is about where it was or up slightly in the animal (division), which is a good sign because a lot of county shows are getting smaller. We went up on entry fees at our homemaking show, and we (thought) that was going to hurt the entries, but it didn’t."

The sale will start Saturday with the buyer’s party at 2 p.m., followed by the live auction at 3 p.m.

The Karnes County Youth Show is a premium auction. Bids go to support and reward the hard work of the youth involved and the animals themselves — many of which are taken on to larger shows in San Antonio and other areas — are not sold.

Click here to see a complete schedule of this year's Youth Show.