The stage is set for the 2023 Oklahoma Youth Expo coming up March 6th through the 17th at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds. Kass Newell, Executive Vice President of the Oklahoma Youth Expo says “the entries are up again at the OYE by around 4,000 entries when you total everything together, which is incredible.” She adds “it’s the biggest jump that I have ever seen for OYE.”
She adds “to no surprise, the hogs are up the most of anything again this year for both gilts and barrows.” Over eighteen thousand gilts and barrows have been entered for the 2023 event.
Kass says she is especially excited about the big jump in entries for the Ag Mechanics contest- up 117 entries from 2022 to 269 for this year- and they have rented extra space to accommodate the much larger contest. This is the fourth year for the Ag Mechanics contest at OYE- Superintendent Jerry Renshaw has expected continued growth- and that is the case in a big way this year.
Oklahoma Farm Report Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays talked with Kass Newell about the record breaking numbers, the expansion of the Ag Mechanics Show and the Construction that has now begun on the new coliseum on the grounds- click on the Listen Bar to hear their conversation.
One of the biggest challenges for 2023 is the physical status of the Fairgrounds. They have begun the dirt work and digging up concrete where the new Arena will be located just east of the Jim Norrick Arena- and that will impact the traffic flow and reduce close parking this month. That will especially be the case the first weekend when both OYE and the state Basketball Tournament will be happening. OYE will be unveiling a video for exhibitors to study to help them navigate the traffic flow.
With the entry deadline now passed- the numbers of animals that are eligible to come to OYE by being entered have jumped by almost 4,000 from 2022 and right at 6,000 compared to 2021. 28,836 entries were received into the OYE office- and based on percentages entered versus those who have arrived at the Fairgrounds over the last couple of years- record large shows in all the barns will likely happen here in 2023. 8,068 exhibitors have submitted these entries, representing all 77 Oklahoma Counties. That’s an increase of 569 exhibitors over those submitting entries last year.
Breaking down the entries by species and division and the increase over 2022:
Market Steers 956 +66
Breeding Heifers 2175 +220
Breeding Gilts 8961 +1223
Market Barrows 9279 +1651
Breeding Ewes 1459 +196
Market lamb 2501 +228
Market Goats 1605 +251
Does 1631 -15
Ag Mechanics 269 +117
The first show is the Ag Mechanics contest on Wednesday morning, March 8th at 8:00 AM. The first of the livestock shows is Thursday morning when the MoorMan’s ShowTec Commercial Breeding Gilt Show in Barn 6 in the Performance Arena- the first gilts to show will be the Dark Cross.
Click here for the complete schedule.
Our coverage of the 2023 Oklahoma Youth Expo is sponsored by Hilliary Communications- who deliver the latest cutting-edge communications services supporting tens of thousands of customers across 22 counties throughout Oklahoma, Texas and Iowa. The company offers internet, voice and HilliaryTV. Hilliary Communications continuously researches the marketplace for innovations and strives to improve underserved areas, offering services that exceed customer expectations. Click here to learn more about Hilliary Communications.
