South Texas Ag Roundup kicking off

EDINBURG — Hidalgo County high schoolers are set to strut their livestock this week — and have the chance to raise some serious dough.

Better known as STAR, the South Texas Agricultural Roundup celebrates its fifth anniversary this year. (Check out the site)

Future Farmers of America and 4-H students have raised all kinds of livestock — lambs, goats, cattle, hogs, chickens and rabbits — to showcase at the roundup.

But raising animals goes beyond teaching teenagers about it, said Joe Carter, STAR president and agriculture teacher at Sharyland High School.

“Whether they choose to pursue agriculture, many of the skills we teach them would make them well-rounded — whatever field of study they choose to go into,” he said.

Those skills include dedication, responsibility and hard work, Carter said.

The show is set to begin Wednesday evening and run through Saturday at Doolittle Park, at E. Sprague Street and S. Raul Longoria Road in Edinburg.

Animals are separated into whether they were raised to breed or sell on the market. All will be on display, which culminates with an auction on Saturday during which students will be able to sell their livestock.

“We are a livestock show and basically, that’s it,” Carter said.

In the past, STAR has attracted a wide range of area livestock enthusiasts, retired farmers who have wintered here from the Midwest and the general public. The roundup also hands out scholarships to many of the students who participate in the show.

It gives students a chance to showcase their animal husbandry talents and allows auction bidders to donate money to those who have raised the finest livestock, Carter said. Last year, the top steer brought in $10,000 for the student who raised it.

Other donors can choose to give money to any student who raised an animal — regardless of whether it is a top performer.

“He can have the last place chicken in the whole show and if somebody wants to come add $500 … they can do that,” Carter said.

The Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show in Mercedes is set for March 7-16. That event is not affiliated with STAR and focuses on a carnival and other events, as well as a livestock show.

IF YOU GO:

What: South Texas Agriculture Roundup

Where: Doolittle Park, Raul Longoria Road and Sprague Street, Edinburg

When: Wednesday Feb. 27-Saturday March 1

Day-by-day schedule of events:

Wednesday, Feb. 27th

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Arrival of livestock exhibits; vendors and commercial exhibits

3:00 p.m. Weighing and Classification for STEERS only. Steers will be called by breed.

6:00 p.m. Weight Cards and Breed Designations must be turned in to Swine, Goat, and Lamb Committee Chairs

6:00 p.m. Arrival, Weighing, and Show of Market Poultry

5:00 p.m. Arrival and weighing of Rabbits (Steer Arena)

6:30 p.m. Market Rabbit Show followed by Market Rabbit Showmanship (Steer Arena)

Thursday, Feb. 28th

8:00 a.m. Mkt. Goat Show, followed by Mkt. Goat Showmanship

8:00 a.m. Mkt. Steer Show (Brahman, Simbrah, MAS Simbrah, Santa Gertrudis, A.B.C., Charolais, Maine-Anjou, A.O.B.) Followed by Mkt. Steer Showmanship, followed by load out of Market Steers ( East Parking Lot must remain empty for load out of steer projects. Students must stay for load out. (Steer arena)

8:00 a.m. Judging of Ag. Mechanics Projects

6:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Arrival of Breeding Goats

12:00 p.m. Breeding Swine Show (Duroc, Hampshire, OPB, Yorkshire, Crossbreed) followed by Breeding Swine Showmanship. (Swine arena) Release of Breeding Swine after the show.

3:00 p.m. Breeding Goat Show followed by Breeding Goat Showmanship (Swine arena); Release of Breeding Goats after the show

Friday, Feb. 29:

8:00 a.m. Mkt. Swine Show (Duroc, Hampshire, OPB, Yorkshire, Crossbreed) followed by Market Swine Showmanship(Swine arena)

8:00 a.m. Mkt. Lamb Show (Fine Wool, Fine Wool Cross, Southdown, Medium Wool) (Steer arena)

Breeding Sheep Show followed by Sheep Showmanship

8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Arrival of Breeding Cattle

12:00 p.m. Breeding Cattle Show followed by Breeding Cattle Show Showmanship (Bulls and Heifers show together); Release Breeding Cattle after show.

5:00 p.m. Loadout of market hogs, lambs and goats. (East Parking Lot and Parking Spaces North of the Swine Barn must remain empty for load out of livestock)

6:00 p.m. All Premium Auction determinations should be done by this time or immediately after the final livestock judging event. Exhibitors must designate which animal they will sell by this time. Set up for Premium Auction following all shows.

Saturday, March 1st

10:30 a.m. STAR Volunteer and Buyer Reception and Lunch

12:00 p.m. STAR Premium Auction

Source: STAR Web site, http://www.gostar.org/

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Jared Taylor covers Edinburg, the Delta region and general assignments for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4439.