Here’a release from the Georgia Department of Agriculture:
Leaving their suits and ties behind, Georgia legislators will be in cowboy boots and jeans during the 2012 Georgia National Fair for the Legislative Livestock Showdown at the Sutherland Livestock & Equine Arena on Saturday, October 6 at 4:15pm. Co-sponsored by the Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Georgia National Fair, this event brings together members of the Georgia General Assembly with members of Georgia’s FFA and 4-H organizations.
“Not only is this is a great opportunity for our state leaders and the future agri-leaders to get to know one another and have some fun, but this event also illustrates the importance of positive youth development programs like 4-H and FFA,” said Gary W. Black, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner. “We look forward to making this annual event something that Georgia National Fair attendees – and future showdown participants – will all look forward to for years to come.”
The House team is led Representative Tom McCall as team captain, along with Minority Leader Stacy Abrams, Representative Allen Peake, Representative Amy Carter, Representative Darlene Taylor and Representative-Elect, Patty Bentley.
The Senate team is captained by John Bulloch and includes Senator John Wilkinson, Senator Lindsey Tippins, Senator Rick Jeffares, Senator Steve Gooch and Senator Jason Carter.
“The Georgia National Fair is proud to be the site for the second Legislative Livestock Showdown,” said Randy Moore, Executive Director of Georgia National Fairgrounds. “This is a great experience for our state legislators to learn what it takes to prepare an animal for showing. The Georgia National Fair thanks the members for sharing their time with our youth at the Fair.”
The two legislative groups, along with assistance from 10 experienced livestock show participants, will show in the showmanship competition, which features the legislators being judged on how they handled their animals in the showmanship ring. Points will be tallied to determine the winning team.