The longest running non-profit regional farm and ranch show in South Texas will be celebrating its 30th anniversary Oct. 22-23 in Victoria.

The South Texas Farm and Ranch Show will be held at the Victoria Community Center, 2905 E. North St. Admission to the show’s exhibits is free, but a fee of $20 fee, which includes a ticket to the noon luncheons, will be charged to attend the educational programs each day.

“The South Texas Farm and Ranch Show has enjoyed a 30-year history of success,” said Peter McGuill, AgriLife Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources for Victoria County.  

“Proceeds go to fund future shows and scholarships for local and area high school students pursuing agriculture-related degrees,” he said.

This year’s show will feature over 125 exhibitors, some from out-of-state, with about $3 million in farm and ranch machinery on display, as well as the latest information and technology to assist Texas farmers, ranchers, landowners and agribusiness clientele, according to Joe Janak, chairman of the show’s Exhibits Committee.

“This year they’ll be able to see the newest-design track and wheel tractors from numerous major brand names,” Janak said. “They’ll see various implements such as stalk choppers and combines, along with wares from companies that promote tractor parts, tools, tool boxes and farm and vehicle tires.”

Other companies will display new self-propelled sprayers and other spray equipment.

“Ranchers will be able to see the latest baler belts, truck hay dump beds, several brands of farm-handy all-terrain vehicles and generators. Exhibitors will also show off their latest horse, cattle, wildlife and show feeds, liquid feeds, protein tubs, fly control mineral tubs, molasses blends and supplement, various brands of fencing wires and styles, pipe materials and deer feeders and blinds.”

Also new this year is an exhibit of programmable livestock feeders to increase feed efficiency and eliminate feed waste caused by wild hogs, Janak said.

“And coming back with new hardware will be exhibitors promoting their best hay rakes, rotary cutters, post-hole diggers and finishing mowers,” he said. “Still others will feature the latest squeeze chutes, turret gates, carriers, scales, alleys, transition pens and hydraulic loading chutes.

For a complete list of the 2014 exhibitors and their items, go to the show website.

“This show usually attracts between 2,000 and 4,000 agriculturally involved people from throughout Texas, but mostly from south-central Texas,” he said. “We will feature about 25 speakers addressing relevant agricultural issues, and offer 12 pesticide continuing education units for farmers and ranchers.”

Unlike years past, the Cattlemen’s College will be held all in one day, Oct. 22.

Organizers are also aware of the growing interest among both landowners and wildlife enthusiasts to learn how the two enterprises can be managed together to promote livestock and wildlife health, habitat and diversity.  

“This year we will offer a unique opportunity to learn about this dynamic relationship,” McGuill said. “The morning session of the Cattlemen’s College will offer interactive presentations and demonstrations from range scientists as they discuss plant identification, managing land for both livestock and wildlife, and establishing and reintroducing native plant populations.”

The afternoon Cattlemen’s College will address cattle genetics, beef nutrition, a beef promotions update and calving problems.

Concurrent sessions on Oct. 22 will address crops management issues in the morning and wildlife topics in the afternoon.

Registration for the educational programs begins at 6:30 a.m. at the center’s main entrance; the programs begin at 7:30 a.m.

Educational programs on the morning of Oct. 23 include Texas Department of Agriculture license recertification and a concurrent session on pesticide applicator training.

The afternoon program includes TDA license recertification and a concurrent session on horticulture and gardening.

The luncheon speaker the first day of the show will be Dr. Doug Steele, AgriLife Extension director, College Station, whose topic will be “Celebrating 100 years of Extension.”

The luncheon speaker on the second day will be Dr. Don Renchie, AgriLife Extension environmental and agricultural safety program specialist, College Station. His topic is “Agriculture Tomorrow; How Will Regulations Affect Production?”

For more information, call the AgriLife Extension office for Victoria County at 361-575-4581.