CC contest to attract 2,500 kids Saturday

Clarendon College will hold its annual Invitational Judging Contest this Saturday and attendance may be the biggest attendance in the event’s history.

The contest attracts more than 2,000 high school FFA students and 4-H students from around Texas and nearby states, doubling the city’s population. As of Tuesday afternoon, there were more than 2,500 contest registrations for the event, and college officials were expecting that number to increase as registration continued.

The number of registrations doesn’t include the hundreds of parents and coaches who accompany the students to the contest. According to the 2010 US Census, Clarendon has a population of 2,026.

“We are very happy to host these young people,” Clarendon Chamber of Commerce President Roger Estlack said. “This boosts our local economy and gives many students who otherwise may not ever consider coming to Clarendon an opportunity to see what we have.”

Past contests have had huge impacts on the local economy. Hotels will be busy Friday night, and restaurants are typically packed the day of the event. This year will hopefully be equally successful.

The annual judging contest is the single biggest event to attract visitors from out of town for one day.

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 a big 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 year after year.”

Also attracting people from out of town this weekend, the Whistle-Stop Trade Days will be open Saturday and Sunday, and several area Little Dribblers teams will participate in a tournament all day Saturday in the gymnasiums at Clarendon ISD. The tournament will feature kids in grades six and under, and proceeds of that event benefit the high school boys’ and girls’ basketball teams.