PORT CHARLOTTE — Cowboy hats, boots and engraved belt buckles weren’t the only things being shown off at the Charlotte County Fair. The main attraction were 1,000-pound steers and 250-pound hogs.
The annual youth livestock market and animal sale at the Charlotte County Fair is a longstanding tradition of showmanship for livestock clubs like 4-H and the FFA.
It’s centered around the agricultural community where children show off their rearing skills for all kinds of farm animals.
Most are looking to go into agricultural-related careers like large animal veterinarians, farm managers, ranch owners and cattle breeders. With the help of clubs like 4-H and FFA, students can be exposed to careers they’re interested in, and get valuable hands-on experience before college.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, Florida had more than 47,500 commercial farms and ranks No. 15 in the United States in number of farms during 2021.
Several of the kids are high school students with some already having a collection of showmanship belt buckles to show for their livestock skills, and some are just starting out.