SAN ANGELO — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service will hold a youth program and skillathon on Aug. 17 as part of the fifth annual Texas Sheep and Goat Expo, which runs Aug. 16-17.
The youth event will run from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Spur Arena at 200 W. 43rd Ave., San Angelo. This will be the third year this program dedicated to educating youth has been part of the expo.
The $15 cost of the skillathon includes breakfast and lunch, which is sponsored by Sheep and Goat Validation of Texas. Participants need to register by Aug. 13 at https://agrilife.org/agrilifesheepandgoat.
“At the Expo we strive to teach youth about sheep and goat production through a variety of hands-on interactive activities,” said Marty Vahlenkamp, AgriLife Extension agent for Runnels County.
Vahlenkamp said this year the event will highlight lamb carcass evaluation and retail meat cuts using lamb carcasses.
Industry experts speaking at the event will include Dr. Shawn Ramsey, Texas A&M University professor of sheep and goat husbandry, College Station; Chad Coburn, AgriLife Extension agent for Sterling County, and Vahlenkamp. Topics will include lamb carcass and meat evaluation; ram breeding and soundness exams; and equipment, feed and medicine.
The skillathon will follow the hands-on demonstrations, so kids will be able to put their knowledge to immediate use, Vahlenkamp said.
“These activities will also benefit those who want to compete in other sheep skillathon contests, such as those hosted by the State Fair of Texas and San Antonio livestock shows each year,” he said.
“Youth will definitely come out with industry knowledge and an upper hand when it comes to competing at future skillathon contests.”
In addition to youth events, the expo features a variety of topics related to the sheep and goat industry, including covering wool sheep, hair sheep, club lambs, meat goats and Angora goats.
Visit https://tinyurl.com/y3qhekqf for a complete expo schedule.
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