Things to know about Travis County Show
Every student showing at TCYS is required to help set up show pens on Saturday, January 10th, at the Expo Center. Exact times and info will be available as we get closer to the show.This is an alternating obligation and commitment by each school and TCYS. The workers at TCYS do keep track of the hard workers (they will ask for your name), and getting in front of them and doing a good can help you at auction!
The TENT: The Booster Club sets up a big white tent on the west side of the livestock barnduring the duration of the show. The tent is where all McNeil Booster Club parents and kids are welcome to eat, chill and socialize. The food and drinks are donated by everyone, and everyone helps in set up, tear down, ongoing operations and cleaning of the tent. It is a big potluck and freezer cleanout. Our great chefs will have the grill going to make one of a kind delicacies with our meats. Bring crockpots so we can have chili and dips. Bring coolers, breads, cooked goods, baked goods, snacks, drinks… whatever you find in your pantry and freezer! If you bring it, they will eat it!In previous years, hot dogs, hamburgers, sausage wraps, roasts, and chicken were big hits. Big meats should be defrosted. On early mornings, breakfast items are sometimes available. What we have depends on the generosity of the booster club members. We also collect $5 per family to pay for supplies (gas, paper goods, propane, charcoal, foil, plastic ware, ice, etc…) payable at the Jan booster meeting. The tent is a great place to socialize and hang out between shows and feedings and really makes TCYS fun for everyone.Things to bring for the tent: foods, non-alcoholic drinks, chairs, blankets, cameras, and smiles!
Your student needs to bring: show clothes, normal clothes (usually FFA tee shirts), waterproof boots/towels (washing animals before the show), money (shavings, snacks, purchases), and allshow tools (sticks, feeders, feed, brushes, blankets, bucket, etc…).
The BARN:Mr. V. will give feeding and watering instructions throughout the day. Your student needs to be at the expo center while their animal is there to follow these instructions.Students are expected to be at the expo center every day from opening to closing hours while their animal is there.During down times, kids are encouraged to pick up a broom and sweep the floors. The students may be placed in cleaning teams to monitor the aisles for Herdsman. Keeping the aisles clean gets a lot of points towards the Herdsman Award! Also, please remember to keep ALL areas clean, including the tops of pen where you store your show items. Judges like busy kids doing FFA activities instead of kids chatting or just standing around. One comment made about the first place winner of the pig Herdsman Award was that all the kids were always busy cleaning and watching their animals when the judges walked by. If the kids are not doing anything, please have them pretend to look busy, especially when the TCYS jackets are walking nearby!
AFTERWARDS: All animals will be released Sunday, from 8am-noon. Your student must be at the expo barn to load his/her animal onto the trailer.Students are required toremove shavings from their animal’s pen once the animal is loaded and should not leave the barn until their pens are cleaned out completely. Herdsman decorations will also need to be taken down and stored before students leave.
Encourage your kids to stay at the Expo center to clean and support other students in the show. Please remember to always be polite and considerate. Our actions are a reflection of our organization and school, and we want to keep our reputation spotless.