In less than one month people from all over the state will be traveling to attend the state fair.
MINOT, ND (KXNET) — In less than one month people from all over the state will be traveling to attend the state fair.
But this weekend the state fairgrounds have some early visitors for a competition so what’s the beef?
Cows are lying down in the livestock expo barn underneath fans keeping them cool.
They are also being taken care of by their owners like being fed and rinsed off keeping them show-ready.
“The Junior Beef Expo is a cattle show that features a breeding show, a market show, and a showmanship contest,” said Jade Koski, the special projects director for the North Dakota Stockmans Association.
Friday evening, the kids will be hanging out, making friends, and playing corn hole.
Saturday morning will start off with the breeding show where kids will be showing off their breeding stock heifers in their respective breeds.
Angus and Simmental are two of the 12 breeds that will be represented this year.
“We’ll move into the market division which is where you show your market animals. We do have market heifers and market steers this year and then finally we have a showmanship contest which is based on their ability to show their animals. We have two divisions there the junior and the senior division and they compete within their age range,” said Koski.
Jessa Spickler is competing in her fourth expo and has two Angus Heifers.
She has been preparing for the competition by working with her cattle every day, washing them, and keeping them clean and she shares what she enjoys about the expo.
“I like a lot of the people and they make it fun, you have corn hole the night before and there is a lot of socialization too,” said Spickler.
Koski says 70 kids signed up and there were 90 entries which is an increase from the previous year here is her reason for having this junior beef expo.
“The kids, they get another opportunity to get out and show their cattle and for them, it is part of their summer and that’s what they love to do on their summer breaks so giving them an opportunity to come out to another show is what we love to do,” said Koski.
Prizes from each show vary from premium checks to custom jackets, and a speaker that says hardest worker.