President’s Message

Dear Southwest Jr Livestock Show Participants and Families:

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the 84th annual Southwest Jr. Livestock Show. Though it feels like we just got done with last year’s projects it is time to start again. It is fun to see the quality of projects and most importantly the quality of youth progress significantly every year; because of this, the quality of the sale has hit an all-time high in 2023. It reminds me of the FFA Creed when it says, “the better things we now enjoy have come to us from the struggles of former years.” Through great sacrifices of many community members and donations of great people and associations, you participants get to enjoy the best show and sale in the State of Utah.

I will be quoting the FFA Creed quite a bit in the message. One thing I want to focus on is this out of the FFA Creed, “I believe…to be engaged in other agricultural pursuits, is pleasant as well as challenging.” These projects you are raising are supposed to be rewarding yet challenging. Challenges are what help make us strong as individuals. As you pursue that buckle, challenge yourself to know what you need to do to be better at showmanship. Challenge yourself to know what your animal needs to be better. I also challenge you to challenge your friends create a friendly competition push each other to be better in the show ring and then cheer each other on.

Also in the FFA Creed it mentions, “I believe in less dependence on begging and more power in bargaining.” Go out and bargain with business that you support to support you. You are raising a prime product be proud of that. Go get businesses to bid on your projects, this will allow you to obtain a higher sale price on sale day. Most importantly, this will allow you to market a product you raised and be proud of it, as you should be. Do not forget part of this bargaining is your support who supports you. Support the local businesses that support the show without these businesses this show is nothing. Thank your buyers they deserve your schmoozing.

Wrapping up this letter I want thank everyone one involved in the livestock show. Scott Christensen with the Diamond Z Arena takes pride in making the facilities in tiptop shape and puts in countless hours to keep the facilities working for us. All the board and committee members, be sure to thank them. We put in these volunteer hours because we believe in the future of agriculture and we believe in you. See you at the Diamond Z Arena September 4-7 of 2024.

Best Regards,

Steve Barton, President