This weekend is time for the spring livestock show in Blaine County.
Events begin Friday afternoon when sheep, goats and swine are weighed in and papers checked from 4-6 p.m. at the Blaine County Fairgrounds. All livestock except cattle must be in place on the fairgrounds by 5 p.m. Friday.
Saturday morning the show gets underway bright and early with swine entering the ring by 8 a.m.
Swine are followed by goats and sheep, which begin showing at 11 a.m. The goat fitting contest will take place half an hour after the end of the sheep show.
Cattle will be weighed in beginning at 8 a.m. Sunday. The weigh in will complete at 10 a.m. and all cattle must be in place at the fairgrounds by 9 a.m. Sunday.
The cattle will be judged beginning at 1 p.m. and the cattle fitting competition will be held 30 minutes after the cattle show ends.
The Ring of Champions has become a popular facet of the spring show. In this event special needs students are paired with student showmen who assist them with prepping and showing a borrowed animal.
The idea came to Watonga through Dayson Cash, who saw it at a show in Laverne three years ago and decided to implement it here – with a lot of help.
“My parents have helped me every step,” he said. He also threw bouquets to ag teachers Kayla and Devin Flanders and Kodi Hussey, a special education teacher. The Flanders, he said, helped getting the showmen and animals lined up. Hussey is an enthusiastic supporter.
This year the Ring of Champions has a champion of its own, a single unnamed donor, who donated enough to cover the costs of the event,trophies and ribbons for the contestants.
Ring of Champions is popular, but its continuation is a question mark.
Cash is a senior this year and will graduate soon. He is concerned about the event going on after he graduates.
“That’s the big question, who is going to continue it,” he said. “I don’t want to dump it on just one person, I’d like to get a couple of people. I hope they reach out so it continues,” he added.
“But I’ll work on it after this year’s show.”