By Haley Mitchell Godwin

The Crenshaw County Junior Cattlemen’s Association will host the biannual Belt Buckle Classic, a Beyond the Ring Junior Livestock Association sanctioned show, Jan.14 at the Tom Harbin Ag Center, featuring exhibitors from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Mississippi, and Tennessee. 

Saturday’s event marks the seventeenth Belt Buckle Classic to be held in Luverne. 

Future Farmers Association, 4-H, and Junior Cattlemen’s members from all states, 21 and younger may  register for the event. Fifteen buckles will be awarded for the top five Heifers, top five Market Animals, and top five Showmanship Division Champs.

Exhibitors will begin checking in at 8 a.m. and the first category, Pee-Wee Showmanship, will begin at 11:30 a.m..

According to Ashley Catrett, event organizer, the members of the Crenshaw County Junior Cattlemen’s Association it takes year round hard work and dedication to be involved in livestock showing and to participate in events like the Belt Buckle Classic. 

“These young people have devoted countless hours to their livestock projects,” Catrett said.  “They are some of the most disciplined, hardest working individuals around. Members of the Crenshaw County Junior Cattlemen’s Association pride themselves in representing the ideals of the Friendliest City and practicing good old southern hospitality.  There is no entry fee for the show, and I hope you come see the junior cattlemen in action.”

Mykenna Nettles, 12th grader and FFA member at Perry High School in Perry, Georgia, said that the Belt Buckle Classic is her favorite show and she is very excited about participating in it this weekend. 

“I love this show and love that it is put on twice a year,” Nettles said. “It is where I won my first buckle. Now I have won a total of three buckles from the show along with two Reserve Champion Showmanship titles. The judges they bring in are always great and I always look forward to the traditions of eating at Preston’s when we get into town on Friday, taking pictures under the lights above the street there, and celebrating our post show victory dinner at Bush’s on Saturday night It is always a great time and I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Several items will be raffled at the event including a 20-quart Orca cooler, two Orca tumblers, a 20-liter dry bag, a Bagail microfiber towel, a Coghlan’s cooler light, a set of cornhole boards, and more. Tickets are $10 each and will give entrants three chances to win.

 Tickets can be purchased at the door beginning at 8 a.m. No more raffle tickets will be sold after noon. The money raised from the raffles help with ag competitions, events, and scholarships.