world-class youth showmanship
Author: RJ Post
Grand Island Independent
The livestock competition taking place this week at the Nebraska State Fair grounds, in some ways, exceeds the State Fair itself.
The Aksarben Stock Show on Thursday through Sunday brings youth from 14 states to Grand Island to exhibit beef, swine, sheep, goats and broilers.
“The State Fair is usually all Nebraska people, showing Nebraska livestock,” said Jaime Parr, executive director of the Nebraska State Fair. “And to add 13 other states into the 14-state mix gives some stronger competition.”
The Aksarben Stock Show, in its 98th year overall, has been in Grand Island since 2017, when it moved from Omaha.
It draws 1,400 exhibitors, ages 9 to 19, from Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado.
When the exhibitors’ families are added, the number of visitors to Grand Island rises to 3,500.
“The total awards given out across the three-day show is over $118,000,” Parr said.
“It’s significant,” she said, “and we try to work with sponsors to raise those awards and premiums.”
The number of livestock is comparable to that shown during the State Fair.
“However, you’ll see an extra tent set up behind the Sheep Barn because we needed more stalling space for the lambs,” Parr said.
On Thursday, exhibitors and their animals will get checked in and settled.
“Then on Friday, we start to do our market shows,” she said, “so those animals that are ready for market.”
Saturday continues with market animals building up to Purple Banner Night.
“We do a big production where we introduce the youth from each state, so they come out with their state flag,” Parr said. “It’s a big performance.”
Overall champions are chosen from the market animals exhibited on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, the focus shifts to breeding animals in the same categories.
Some of the animals get to the Aksarben Stock Show through the Challenge Program, which gives youth the opportunity to experience growing and showing a market animal. Exhibitors receive cattle, swine, sheep or goats with the financial support of sponsors.
“The youth write an essay saying why they would like to receive a complimentary baby animal,” Parr said. “Then they raise it throughout the summer and bring it to show at the stock show.”
Exhibitors set a goal for how much weight the animal will gain and keep a record book throughout the process.
“They keep track of what they’re feeding it,” she said, “and if they’re have trouble, they might visit with a sponsor who paid for the animal or with their local veterinarian and try to figure out how to find the best performing animal.”
Youth also compete in livestock judging at Aksarben.
“High school kids as well as college or secondary institution individuals and teams come to practice their judging skills,” Parr said. “On Sunday, they judge the animals in the morning and submit their final rankings.”
In the afternoon, the students go to Barr Middle School, where they explain their findings and defend them to professional judges.
“So, we are bringing up the next generation of livestock judges through this show,” she said.
Exhibitors can also compete in a quiz bowl and a public speaking contest.
When they’re not competing, a study hall will be set up for them in the Beef Pit.
“It is during the school year, and these kids are probably missing school to be here,” she said. The study hall provides “a quiet place with internet service available to do homework.”
Admission to the Aksarben Stock Show is free, and members of the public who don’t know anyone exhibiting can still find things to do — such as eating and shopping.
The Pinnacle Bank Expo Center will host a variety of vendors.
“Lots of Western wear and Western household-type items,” Parr said, “but your regular vendors also like pots and pans and some knives.”
“More importantly than that would be to meet some of these youth and see the work that they put into the animals throughout the year,” she said. “The State Fair is our mission, but Aksarben is so close to that that it makes sense that we can be the owner-operator of that event also.”
Aksarben Stock Show
When: Thursday through Sunday
Where: Fonner Park, Grand Island
Admission: Free
More information: aksarbenstockshow.com
