Any thoughts on cattle shows being held this summer?

[aj]

I believe that Oklahoma was having a big one about June 1st. County fairs? Rodeos?

 

[oakview]

I know of at least one county fair in Iowa that has been cancelled.  I believe there will be more.  A lot of it depends on the success/failure of the gradual reopening in the state.  Junior Shorthorn Nationals are still on as of yesterday.  We've shown at the state fair 50+ years in a row and would hate to miss it because of a Chinese virus.  We'll wait and see what happens, but I will be surprised if it is held without major changes. 

 

[Gargan]

For county and state fairs, I truly think it will be which side of the fence ur governing board is on..sad , but that's my feeling

 

[Jacob B]

Lots of county fairs canceling around Michigan.  Ours is still in question.

 

[aj]

Will class winners have *'s by them if only half the entries show up as normal.

 

[oakview]

If low numbers in a show deserve an *, then there should have been one on many of the shows for the past 10-20 years.  Pick up the old magazines and scan the various state fair show reports.  For most of them, numbers don't come close to comparing to what there used to be.  I would think the main reason is that at least in our area of the country, nobody has ANY livestock any more.  In the 12 miles from our farm to I-35 I can tell you what each and every farmstead had for livestock 30 years ago.  Now, other than our cattle, there are only 2 llamas at one place.  Period.  In our square mile, 4 farmsteads no longer exist.  We do have a significant number of "neighbors" that farm well over 10,000 acres, though.  30 years ago a huge number of the loans processed at our bank were for farmers buying feeder pigs to feed out.  Now, I would bet you would have to drive 20 miles any direction to find 1 person taking care of their own hogs.  Tons of corporate owned confinement hog facilities, though.  Most of them built close to anyone's home other than the "owner."  I do enjoy it when folks of my generation stop by our stalls at the fair and remember when with me. 

 

[vc]

Our county fair, state fair, as well as a host of other county fairs have been cancelled in our state. I believe any fair from now until the end of July has been cancelled thus far, maybe even some August fairs. The 2 heifer projects we sponsored this year have not been able to show since February, the one heifer has been returned since that young ladies county fair had been cancelled and she is getting ready to go off to college (maybe), the other young lady is hanging on to hope that her August fair takes place.

 

[aj]

What state vc? What about Iowa State fair?

 

[oakview]

Iowa State Fair board secretary was interviewed on the radio yesterday afternoon.  From what I could gather, nothing has been decided for sure, but if the fair is held, there will be some adaptations.  What they might be, I don't know. 

 

[Shorthorns4us]

Oakview-- I read your post about "Adaptations" for the Iowa State Fair and chuckled-- how are you going to adapt for this?  my guess is that they will allow shows with no spectators and basically no one there-- I don't know how you would police this huge fair for CDC guidelines..... 

Of course if it is limited or canceled, it is just one more thing in my bucket for 2020 that has been ruined.

https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/iowa-state-fair-01-gty-jc-190808_hpMain_16x9_992.jpg

 

[Shorthorns4us]

Correction to last post-- by shows-- I mean livestock shows-- pointless to have Hairball with no one there!!!<rock> <rock> <rock> <rock> <rock>

 

[Gargan]

https://pulse.sullivansupply.com/eastern-regional-junior-show-is-a-go-june-25th-28th-in-lebanon-tennessee/

 

[oakview]

Regarding the Iowa State Fair, I kind of got the impression that if a limited opening is not profitable for the Iowa State Fair, then it probably won't happen.  In the words of one fair board member, "We make no money south of Grand Avenue."  Meaning the grandstand and midway pay the bills, not the hog and cattle shows.  It would be simple to hold the cattle shows on a one day show and go basis.  That's not going to make the fair any money, so it probably won't happen.  Maybe state breed associations could hold their own version of the "state fair show" at a different location.  Years ago I judged several Minnesota State Shorthorn Shows held annually at  different county fair sites in addition to the Minnesota State Fair.  Their state show at that time was fairly large.  All this brings into question the big shows.  Will NAILE be held?  American Royal?  Denver?   

 

[vc]

California, our county fair draws over 1.5 million visitors, It is held at the race track in Del Mar, the weather is very pleasant for July and our state fair north pf 1 million visitors each year. I will tell you I almost think the kids did better selling their animals this year than the normally do I need to find 2 steers and hogs for my boss and it is hard, so far only thing left that I can find is lamb and goats.

The thing about the livestock at the fairs, you remove the livestock and it is now a carnival, our local ag district play a big part in our running our fair, lose the ag and lose the money from the state and local ag district.

 

[Weezie]

Today, Purdue announced that County Fairs in Indiana in July are a go. Hoping the second wave that will probably hit in late June/ early July doesn't cancel the Indiana State Fair.

 

[aj]

I just saw a deal that the Kansas State Fair was gonna try and make it a go.

 

[Tallcool1]

Nebraska State Fair is a go.  I hope so, but I have to wonder.  Grand Island NE has the strongest concentration of Covid-19 positive tests in the nation.

 

[aj]

I have heard 2 theories. One.....covid 19 killed the club calf industry. Two....since people are social distancing families have a lot of time on their hands to work with calves.

 

[oakview]

It has been more of a delight than I can tell you to have the grand kids home the past few months.  They absolutely love to be around the cattle, they remind me of myself when I was a kid.  They can tell you anything you want to know and are taking a real interest in planning this spring's matings.  Even on my cows!  We had a handful of early calves and I can tell you those kids already have them all but ready for the fair.  A friend of mine stopped by last weekend to look at the calves and I just sent the kids out with him and stayed out of the way.  The only problem is the two best heifer calves in the pen were theirs and they won't sell them!  They've always shown great interest and helped immensely with everything around the farm, but I will tell you this spring has been an absolute joy.  For all of us.  Now, we heard yesterday that the high school baseball season in Iowa will most likely go on.  They love baseball, as do I.  I guess I'll have to go back to sharing them, but that's okay.  As far as the club calf industry or showing cattle in general, this may be a brief setback.  But the cattle business gets in your blood.  Whether you show them, raise them, feed them out, it doesn't matter.  If there's a way to keep a cow on your place, you'll do it.     

 

[Jive Turkey]

Ohio State Fair was cancelled today.