One of Clarke County’s 4-H kids, Jackson King, has placed high in the nation for showing his goats and lambs.
While he is part of the local 4-H branch, Jackson also participates in a nationwide association, known as Beyond the Ring Junior Livestock Association (BTRJLA). The association has members from all 50 states that pay $50 per species to be part it. Unlike local shows, the association is a circuit where the kids win points throughout the year by competing in shows that are sanctioned with the BTRJLA, and the top 10 shows count towards the points. At the end of each year, the point standings are used to determine the top 10 in the nation.
This time, Jackson King won third in the nation for his goats and fifth in the nation for his lambs.
“I felt amazing—like a celebrity!” Jackson exclaimed when discussing how he felt after placing so high in the nation.
His parents, Chris and Christy King, are proud of Jackson’s success.
“Chris and I couldn’t be more excited for how this year turned out in the BTRJLA for Jackson,” declared Christy. “I remember the first week they posted points way back in January of 2022 I checked, and Jackson was first in the all-around in the entire nation, and I near about spit out my coffee. I knew the year was a marathon and not a sprint. I knew it was going to be a long year of racking up points, but for at least one week he was ranked as number one in the nation, so I took a screen shot of it and we enjoyed the victory. We figured that it wouldn’t last long. There a ton of good animals and showmen throughout the nation. We know how hard we, as an entire family, work in our little barn, but we also know that there are lots of barns across the nation where hard work is happening every day. We knew as the show season went on some of the other big names in the show world would rise to the top. As the season went on, those big names did rise to the top, but Jackson stayed right in there with them battling it out. He was consistent with his efforts in the ring and it showed in the points standing each week. We were hoping for a top 10 finish but to finish in the top five nationally in both lambs and goats blew us away. I don’t think it has really set in for Jackson yet—just what he has accomplished. He understands national rankings in football and baseball, but I don’t think he has drawn the parallel in the stock show world yet—to realize that what he has done is the same thing, only in the stock show arena.”
His success was not easily attained. Jackson has had to work hard over the last year to make sure that his animals are well taken care of and that he trains with them each day.
“Well, we feed twice a day. We get them new water twice a day. It helps keep them healthy getting the new water. We work them. I have to clean out their water buckets and scrub them, then fill them up and bring them back to their pens. And then we give them their feed. We have to halter break them and make them learn how to brace and get them ready to go in the ring. We muck the stalls once a month,” explained Jackson. “We put them on the treadmill and make them run forward and backward. It’s an animal treadmill. It’s like a box with a big tread like a belt on it. They run forward and backwards. We run just their back legs when we run them backwards so we can build their booty muscles. We usually run them two or three minutes for each animal. Sometimes we do that every day and sometimes it’s every other day.”
He also makes sure to attend different things to learn more in order to prepare for the shows.
“Well, I go to Massey Show Camp every summer, and I get better on my showmanship and showing my animals,” expressed Jackson. “I learn how to fit and how to clip and brush. I learn how to make their legs look more muscled by the way I groom them and with different products that we use.”
Although he isn’t new to the show arena, he has continued to learn.
“This year I learned hand placement,” stated Jackson. “I learned where to better place my hands on their head so I have a better grip on them so it’s more comfortable for the animals and for me.”
He already has different things in mind that he would like to learn in the future.
“I would like to learn how to use that super blocking blade to clip,” informed Jackson. “I would like to improve on hand placing legs and getting the animals used to letting me touch their back legs to hand place them.”
After all the preparation, he has a certain routine he usually uses on show days. This routine is important for him since he must compete in so many shows each year.
“We get to the barn at least a couple hours before the show starts,” explained Jackson. “We feed and water the animals. I make sure to eat. We do a quick workout with the animals just to get them calmed down. Then I change into my show clothes. Then I sit and read a book to help me stay focused.”
He has participated in a variety of shows and has some that he has truly enjoyed.
“With the Oklahoma Youth Expo, kids in the grand championship drive get to come in the coliseum in a limo. There is a red carpet when they get out of the limo. There is a light show and fireworks inside the coliseum for them and the trophies come down from the ceiling. It’s pretty, and it’s all amazing,” proclaimed Jackson. “There are really two shows that I like the best. I like the last Magnolia Sheep and Goat Circuit Show where we get to have the costume contest and dress up and dress our goat up in Halloween costumes. That’s our last show of that circuit, and we get all our prizes for that circuit at the end of that show too. I also like the spirit show in the circuit where I don’t have to wear a show shirt and I get to wear a team jersey instead. Those are fun shows.”
He has fun with all the shows he does, whether it is for the county 4-H or Beyond the Ring Junior Livestock Association. He works hard and has enough experience to pass on a little advice to others who would like to get involved with livestock.
“Don’t get upset with your animals when you get frustrated,” advised Jackson. “They know when you’re frustrated.”
Congratulations on placing third and fifth in the nation and representing this area so well!
