High Plains farmers and ranchers are descending on two sites to see how their livestock matches up with other competitors.
The ongoing shows are the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado, and the Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
National Western Stock Show
Nearly 700,000 people attend this event, which includes 30 rodeos, 11 horse events and many livestock contests open to people of all ages. It started Jan. 9 and ends Jan. 21, at the National Western Complex.
The show has been where farmers and ranchers also learn about the latest in agriculture and ranching. The first show was in 1906.
This year the show honored military and business leader Gen. Ralph E. “Ed” Eberhart as the 2024 Citizen of the West. The award recognizes those who embody the spirit and determination of the western pioneer and a representative of western lifestyle, ideals, agricultural heritage, and traditions. Gen. Eberhart is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he served as a Cadet Wing Commander. General Eberhart’s active-duty military career spanned 36 years.
Gen. Eberhart was honored as the 45th Citizen of the West during the annual award dinner Jan. 8. Proceeds from the event support the National Western Scholarship Trust, awarding 100 scholarships to students attending colleges and universities in Colorado and Wyoming for agricultural science, rural medicine, or veterinary medicine studies.
More than 16 different breeds of cattle and many other species of livestock will grace the complex grounds. Organizers estimate more than 12,000 head of livestock will move in and out of the gates.
Other activities included pen and market shows for major breeds including Gelbvieh, Limousin, Shorthorns, Angus, Hereford, Anjou, Simmental, Charolais and Red Angus. Also, market lambs, sheep and market goats are on judges’ agendas. Also popular are the draft horse, mule and donkey shows and for exhibitions of exotic breeds such as bison, alpacas and llamas. Additional information and schedule is available at nationalwestern.com.
Cattlemen’s Congress
The Cattlemen’s Congress started Dec. 30 and runs through Jan. 11at the OKC Fairgrounds, in Oklahoma City. The Cattlemen’s Congress began in January 2021 and brought together nearly 10,000 head of cattle and more than 2,700 exhibitors and thousands of producers.
The show features all other domestic livestock and exotics, too.
The show started by honoring the late Jarold Callahan, of Edmond, Oklahoma, who died Dec. 23. Callahan was president of Express Ranches in Yukon, Oklahoma. At the time of his death, he was chairman of the Cattlemen’s Congress board. A story by Field Editor Lacey Vilhauer about Callahan is available at https://hpj.com/2023/12/26/cattle-industry-reacts-jarold-callahans-passing/.
Additional information is at cattlemenscongress.com.
Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or [email protected].
