HUNTER DWORACZYK [email protected]
The Williamson County Expo Center housed chickens, lambs, pigs, cows and more this week.
The 78th Annual Williamson County Livestock Association Show and Sale was held in Taylor Saturday, Dec. 2 to Saturday, Dec. 9.
During the show, students from around all parts of Williamson County, aged 8 to 18, brought their livestock to be observed by a judge for the competition.
Multiple 4H or FFA participants who found success in the livestock show were locally based, coming from Taylor, Granger, Thrall and Hutto. Madison Wilbers, who is from Thrall, earned Grand Champion in the American class with “Big Red,” an American heifer who was born in the January 2022 to June 2022 class.
Wilbers said she has been working with the heifer for a year and a half, feeding it muscle feed and oat wheat twice every day.
She also had to train Big Red how to walk properly in order to be prepared for the event.
“It feels really good to win because you get your confidence up,” Wilbers said. “You know you’re a good showman and all of your hard work paid off.”
After winning Grand Champion for the American class, Wilbers and Big Red won Reserve Champion for the best heifer overall.
Wilbers also spoke positively about the livestock showing culture at Thrall.
“FFA and 4H are fun to do because you get to experience stuff that some kids will not get to experience,” Wilbers said. “We have a program at Thrall where kids can come and touch our animals that don’t get to show. That’s really fun.”
The event included a market goat show and market lamb show on day three, a breeding swine show on day four, a market swine show on day five and a poultry show, heifer show and steer show on day six.
Saturday, Dec. 9 is the auction day, with a youth fair and market sale also taking place.
Complete results can be found on the Williamson County Livestock Association’s Facebook page.
