News

Preparations are continuing for a countywide celebration recognizing VZC as being debt-free scheduled for Wednesday, April 13, inside the VZC Courthouse. VZC Judge Don Kirkpatrick updated the VZC Commissioners Court during its regular meeting March 30 about the upcoming event which is tentatively scheduled to take place in the VZC District Courtroom during the regular meeting of the commissioners’ court set for 9 a.m.

Longtime Van High School Counselor Bill Giles gave an update on the current Tyler Junior College Promise Scholarship Program as well as announcing a similar program underway at the University of Texas at Tyler March 28 during the regular monthly meeting of the Van School Board.

There were 22 steers entered during validation for the junior market show. Steers must be on the grounds by 4:50 p.m. with weigh-in scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 29. The steer show is scheduled for 4 p.m. Thursday, March 31.

Ag Mechanics projects must be in place, on the grounds by 8 a.m. Monday, March 28, and will be displayed until the completion of the silent auction. The competition begins at 8 a.m. on Monday, March 28.This year, there are 74 entries in 18 classes. The purpose of the exhibition and competition is to provide an opportunity for FFA and 4-H members to display the projects constructed in agricultural mechanics laboratories or home shops. It is an opportunity to promote the development of skills in agricultural mechanics and to recognize individual and group for their accomplishments. Projects must be built during the school year prior to the fair. Silent auction bids are taken from Tuesday afternoon until the end of the live auction on Friday, April 1. Items may be picked up by Saturday, April 2.

There are 32 goats entered market show. The goats must be at the fair by 4:50 p.m.

There were 26 lambs validated for the 2022 show. Weigh in for lambs is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The hog show is the largest species, represented by 106 validated for exhibition. The pigs must be in place on the fairgrounds by 4:50 p.m. Tuesday, March 29. Weigh-in begins at 5 p.m. The show is at 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 30.

The Market Broiler show is scheduled Wednesday, March 30. Check in of each pen of three broilers begins at 10:50 a.m. with the sift beginning at 11 a.m. followed immediately by the show. The project began in December 2021 when entry fees were submitted. Each broiler competitor gets a straight run of 25 broilers about six weeks before the fair. They may purchase two runs; however, they may compete with only one pen of three birds. There is a minimum weight of 10 pounds for a pen of the three broilers. There were 38 pens of broilers ordered, up by 10 from 2019. The Grand Champion Broiler exhibitor is responsible for bringing three broilers for use at the market auction on Friday, April 1, 2022, at 6:30 p.m.

The seventh annual Master Showmanship competition is scheduled for Thursday, March 31, after the completion of the steer show which begins at 4 p.m. This event is to test the ability of our steer, swine, lamb, and meat goat showmen as they show each other’s animals. The best showman is the Master Showman.

The Youth Open Breeding Gilt show begins at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 31, in the main show arena. Entry fee is $20 per head, limited to FFA and 4-H members. All entries must be family owned, in the same household. Gilts may not be borrowed. Only exhibitors entered in the gilt show are allowed to participate in the showmanship contests. All breeds will be shown together.