Harrison County Livestock Show Grows From Six Exhibitors to 24 as Annual Sale Returns
SHINNSTON, W.Va. — What began four years ago with six young exhibitors has grown into a two-day Harrison County event featuring 24 4-H and FFA members and roughly 50 animals, culminating Saturday evening when businesses and community buyers will bid on livestock raised by local students.
The fifth annual Harrison County 4-H and FFA Livestock Show and Sale begins Friday at the former Sunset Ellis Drive-In property in Shinnston, bringing together students who have spent months raising, training and caring for livestock projects.
The event represents a significant expansion from its first year.
When Harrison County held its first livestock show and sale in 2022, six exhibitors participated and five youth sold $17,100 worth of market animal projects. This year, participation has grown to 24 exhibitors, four times the number involved in the inaugural event.
For the students, Saturday's auction is also the business side of a project that can stretch from several months to nearly a year.
Participants are responsible for purchasing or raising their animals, caring for them, tracking expenses and maintaining records throughout the project. They also learn about animal health, quality assurance, marketing and the economics involved in bringing a market animal to sale.
The money raised when an individual market animal is sold goes to the 4-H or FFA member who raised it. Students can use those proceeds for future agricultural projects, education and other expenses.
That creates a direct connection between the businesses and individuals bidding Saturday night and the young people participating in the program.
Buyers are also purchasing locally raised livestock. Market projects include beef, hogs, lambs, goats and other animals, with processing arrangements available following the sale.
The show begins at 5 p.m. Friday with rabbit and poultry competition, including broiler chickens and market turkeys.
Competition resumes at 9 a.m. Saturday with the market hog show, followed by other livestock classes and showmanship events.
Students will also participate in a livestock skill-a-thon designed to test their knowledge of livestock breeds, meat cuts and other aspects of agriculture.
A buyer reception is scheduled for 5 p.m. Saturday, followed by the livestock auction at 6 p.m.
The event's growth follows an effort that began several years ago to create a stronger livestock program for Harrison County youth. Organizers have worked to recruit businesses and other buyers while giving students experience marketing their own projects and talking directly with potential customers.
The Harrison County Livestock Association has also received support from the Harrison County Commission in recent years as the program has expanded. The county provided funding in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 to help with costs associated with the annual event.
Anyone interested in purchasing an animal can obtain a buyer packet through the Harrison County Extension Office at 304-624-8650.
