AgFest kicks off Sunday at Stockton Fairgrounds
On Sunday, the San Joaquin County Fairgrounds in Stockton are going to the dogs — and a lot of other animals, too.
Teens and kids in 4-H, FFA, Grange and other youth ag groups in the county will be registering their livestock projects for the San Joaquin AgFest Junior Livestock Show and Auction.
From cows, hogs, sheep and goats to chickens and rabbits, the livestock — and their handlers, of course — will be competing for best in show.
So will dogs, which will compete in American Kennel Club-compliant obedience and handling competitions.
Youths with vocational projects such as welding, wood, plants and vegetables will also exhibit their projects during the six-day show.
San Joaquin AgFest has replaced the junior level of the San Joaquin County Fair’s livestock show and auction.
In 2013, the San Joaquin County Fair declared that they could not financially put on the event, so parents, club leaders and advisers organized a nonprofit organization and created AgFest so youth members had a place to show their livestock and vocational projects.
Although the San Joaquin County Fair has returned, AgFest continues to operate as a show and auction for children and teens who are interested in agriculture and artisanal arts.
All of the exhibitors learn to custom feed and humanely raise their large or small livestock projects. During the show, all of the animals are judged by qualified industry professionals to determine whether they are market ready.
Students who raise livestock animals for sale often use the profits to help fund their college or trade school educations.
Some of the exhibitors start out with one or two animals and begin a breeding program, according to AgFest. By the end of their 4-H or FFA career, they will have a herd of animals or a flock of birds and often the means to develop their breeding program into a small business.
This year’s AgFest will include more than 800 exhibitors from youth agriculture programs, along with 1,400 large and small animals to be shown.