Junior National Hereford Expo July 12-19 in Kansas City
Jul 8, 2008 3:25 PM
The 2008 Junior National Hereford Expo is expected to draw more than 1,400 entries and more than 570 exhibitors to Kansas City to participate in the Hereford breed’s summer youth extravaganza slated for July 12-19. The Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas state Hereford associations in cooperation with the American Hereford Association (AHA) will host this year’s event. For more details visit the National Junior Hereford Association website.
National Junior Angus Show next week in Des Moines
The 2008 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) is set for July 13-19 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines. More than 750 young Angus enthusiasts from 37 states have entered 1,595 entries into this year’s cattle show. In addition to the four days of showing competition, National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members have the opportunity to compete in 13 educational and life-skill contests during the week.
“The NJAS is so much more than a cattle show,” says James Fisher, director of junior programs for the American Angus Association.® “The NJAS provides the opportunities to gain skills in public speaking, photography and writing, while learning to work as a team in the contests like team sales and quiz bowl. Finally, youth build lifelong friendships as many of them travel to the junior show annually.”
The Iowa Angus and junior associations will host “Christmas in July.” The week-long event features the largest single-breed beef cattle show in the world, and all cattle are exhibited by youth ages 9-21 years old.
Judges for the cattle show include Chris Sankey, Council Grove, Kan., who will evaluate the owned heifers. Mark Duffell, Aldie, Va., will judge the bred-and-owned heifers, bulls and cow-calf pairs, and Blake Bloomberg, College Station, Texas, will evaluate the steers. Youth also have the opportunity to enter steers in a carcass contest.
The educational contests allow junior members to showcase their skills outside of the showring and include prepared and extemporaneous public speaking, a quiz bowl, team sales, team fitting, livestock judging, photography, posters, writing, and graphic design. Another feature of the week is the American Angus Auxiliary-sponsored All-American Certified Angus Beef® Cook-Off.
This year marks the 42nd Annual National Junior Angus Showmanship contest. Nearly 50 young showmen from 23 states will compete for the title of “Top Showman” in the contest that limits participation to once in a lifetime. Showmanship judges include Donnie Robertson, Yukon, Okla.; Holly Gamble Meier, Clinton, Tenn.; and Jim Pipkin, Republic, Mo.
The NJAA will also conduct its annual meeting during the week, where six members will be elected to the NJAA Board of Directors, and the new officers will be announced during the awards function on Friday evening.
For more information about the 2008 NJAS or junior Angus programs, visit www.njas.info or contact the junior activities department at 816-383-5100.
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