CC judging contest expecting large crowd

The local population will more than double this weekend when the Clarendon College Invitational Judging Contest is held on Saturday.
The contest regularly attracts more than 2,000 high school FFA students and 4-H students from Texas and nearby states.

According to the 2000 US Census, Clarendon has a population of 1,974.
Blowing snow and hazardous driving conditions forced the cancelation of last year’s contest.  That marked the first time in the 28-year history of the event it had to be cancelled.

Past contests have had huge impacts on the local economy.  Restaurants are typically packed for the event to the point of actually having to turn people away, and this year will hopefully be equally successful.

In fact, the annual judging contest is the single biggest event to attract visitors from out of county for one day than any other annual event. By comparison, the July 4th Saints’ Roost Celebration barbecue annually attracts about 1,000 people, the Buck’N Blow Out Rodeo on Labor Day weekend drew 1,500 last year, and the Col. Charles Goodnight Chuckwagon Cookoff records between 1,000 and 1,500 visitors each September. Each of those events, however, has hundreds of local residents in attendance. The greatest number of people at the judging contest will come from outside of Donley County.

In addition to helping local merchants, the event also presents a great opportunity for CC to showcase its campus, faculty, and programs for prospective students. Johnny Treichel, Clarendon College livestock and meats judging coach, said the event is the biggest recruiting tool for the college.

“This is the only time each year the college has this many potential students on campus,” he said. “And we are pleased to have such positive support from the community.”