The livestock shows are some of the most entertaining events held during the fair. 4-H’ers and FFA’ers from panhandle counties with livestock projects all get a chance to exhibit their animals. Stock handling was once the bastion of denim clad hombres with saucer sized belt buckles. Not so anymore.

Rhinestones and mascara are just as common among the exhibitors as ostrich skin cowboy boots. Brute strength has been replaced with finesse and feminine ingenuity when the young lady exhibitors manipulated rambunctious animals ten times their size. Clearly, the ladies are highly skilled at handling all sorts of animals.

A steady stream of onlookers watches as the seemingly endless line of cattle breeds marched through the show-ring for judging. None of the onlookers stayed long, but each got an up-close look at how their last serving of prime rib originated.

It is a great diversion from the realities of agriculture.  To learn more, read on…