With the name Putnam County Herd Immunity Livestock Show, one might surmise that herd immunity is a reference to animal health. It is not.
The Putnam County Herd Immunity Livestock Show was born in 2020, the year of Covid. The lack of human herd immunity to Covid-19 caused the 2020 Putnam County Fair to be cancelled and, with it, all 4-H project livestock shows.
Long-time 4-H Club supporter Brian Prim, disappointed that 4-H’ers would not be allowed to show their animal projects, stepped forward to organize and sponsor a consolation livestock show which was held at the Winfield Riding Club. He named it the Putnam County Herd Immunity Livestock Show because its creation stemmed from the lack of human herd immunity to Covid. The success of the show was cause for 4-H supporters to band together and sponsor a 2nd Putnam County Herd Immunity Livestock Show on June 4 and 5. Chief sponsors were the Prim Law Firm and Call’s Meat Market. Contributing sponsors were the Mason County Fair and United Producers Livestock Market.
The event was open to all youth in Putnam, Cabell, Jackson and Mason counties who wished to show their market hog, market goat, market lamb, prospect heifer, prospect feeder calf, or market steer. For a $10 entry fee, youngsters could compete against each other in a quest to have their animal named Grand Champion, Reserve Champion or 3rd Place. Grand Champion winners received a $500 cash prize; Reserve Champion, $300; and 3rd Place, $100. Winners were selected by a single livestock judge.
Livestock judges, certified to judge all classes of animals (hogs, goats, lambs and cattle), are few. Derrick Drury of Midland, Texas, was selected as the judge following a national search.
Market hogs were judged on Friday, June 4, at the Mason County Fairgrounds. All other classes were judged on Saturday, June 5, at the Winfield Riding Club.
Drury named the following winners:
Grand Champion Market Hog – Gunnar Parsons; Reserve Champion Market Hog – Desi Rose; 3rd place Market Hog – Kindy Barnett.
Grand Champion Goat – Hannah Hudelston; Reserve Champion Goat – Johnny Thompson; 3rd – Brennan Grady.
Grand Champion Lamb – Kylie Arrington; Reserve Champion Lamb – Brianna Haga; 3rd – Geoffrey Cummings.
Replacement Feeder – Heifers: Grand Champion Heifer – Ty Parkins; Reserve Champion Heifer – Parker Wears; 3rd – Brandy Facemyer.
Feeder Calves-Steers: Grand Champion Feeder – Allie Clagg; Reserve Champion Feeder – Camlyn Boyles; 3rd – Kyndell Stone.
Market Steers: Grand Champion Steer – Kayleigh Hayzlett; Reserve Champion – Barett Dudding; 3rd – Marlee Norris.
Event organizer LeAnne Call reported that a total of 86 4-H’ers participated on Friday and Saturday.
Call stated that the event will be held annually during the first week of June.
