South Texas Farm and Ranch Show set for Oct. 21-22 in Victoria

VICTORIA —  The 31st annual South Texas Farm and Ranch Show will be held Oct. 21-22 in Victoria and is expected to bring the state’s agribusiness community together once again, organizers said.

“The reason folks make the trip to this show every year is because of the top-notch speakers, trade show exhibitors, demonstrations, continuing education units and so much more,” said Matt Bochat, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service agent for agriculture and natural resources for Victoria County.

The show will be held at the Victoria Community Center, 2905 E. North St. It will feature over 125 exhibitor booths and 25 speakers, a golf tournament and children’s activities.

The theme of this year’s show is “Water and Agriculture,” Bochat said.

“Both luncheon keynote speakers will touch on water use and conservation policy as it relates to agriculture,” he said. “Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller will speak on Oct. 21, and state Sen. Lois Kolkhorst will speak Oct. 22. Water is an important international issue and will continue to be so, especially for agricultural producers as populations grow and water usage is stressed.”

The popular Cattlemen’s College will also be held again beginning at 7:30 a.m. on opening day, he said.

“The college focuses on cattle and brings together for one day the best speakers and innovative technologies in the beef industry,” Bochat said. “Sessions will be running simultaneously to address herbicide management, commodity marketing, bioenergy, hybrid crop testing, wildlife stewardship and management, feral hogs and more.”

Seven Texas Department of Agriculture continuing education units will be offered for private, non-commercial and commercial pesticide applicators.

“A new feature on day one will be the Dinner Tonight Healthy Cooking School,” Bochat said. “This will focus on area chefs, restaurants and demonstrations by AgriLife Extension agents.”

The second day of activities will offer training for private pesticide applicators who want to begin the process of obtaining a Texas Department of Agriculture applicators license. Six credits will be offered in integrated pest management, laws and regulations, ranch and pasture management, water issues and predator control.

Other programs that day include backyard gardening and family legacy and estate planning, which begin at 7:30 a.m.

“This is one of the longest running farm and ranch shows in South Texas,” Bochat said. “All monies raised go toward scholarships for youth in Victoria and surrounding counties. In its history, the show has donated over $160,000 in scholarship money to hundreds of deserving students.”

The entire agenda for the show can be found online at www.southtexasfarmandranchshow.com.

Admission to the exhibits is free. Educational programs will cost $20 daily per person including lunch. Luncheon tickets alone are $10 each and can be purchased at the AgriLife Extension office for Victoria County, 528 Waco Circle, until Oct. 21.

For more information, contact the AgriLife Extension office at 361-575-4581.