Western Star Junior Heifer Classic - Celebrating 20 Years

VOICE OF TWO BRING RESULTS FOR 100’s

During the winter of 1992, two 4-H parents expressed concern about the lack of 4-H members participating in beef breeding projects. They requested help in facilitating a meeting of interested individuals that would develop strategies to enhance youth involvement in this project area.

Seven representatives of a local cattlemen’s group, the 4-H council, older 4-H members and the financial community volunteered to discuss the situation and possibly develop plans to encourage youth participation. During the first meeting of this group, there was unanimous agreement to the following:

• There was a need to enhance participation in the beef breeding project area;

• Present financial participation incentives were inadequate;

• Because the business community strongly supported the traditional market animal sale, the committee felt other sponsor options should be identified such as purebred cattle producers for financial support;

• Because neighboring county 4-H programs experienced a similar situation, the enhancement effort should be a multi-county event including youth from adjacent and Montana counties;

• The effort should have educational values beyond the evaluation of breeding animals; and

• Considerable effort should be made to give the event a prestigious public image, especially for the youth participants.

Three additional meetings resulted in final plans for the first Western Star Junior Heifer Classic to be held in conjunction with the 1993 Upper Missouri Valley Fair. The goal was to have 20 participants and operate with a $2,000 expense budget with $1,500 awarded as premiums to the exhibitors. That first year there were 24 heifer exhibits. The organizing committee felt it had succeeded in meeting the interest in the project area. Even with the first year being so successful, the committee was unable to predict the participation level that was to come.

With the inclusion of the North Dakota Junior Hereford Association, the second year's participation nearly doubled to 47 entries.  Russ Danielson, Professor of Animal Science and judge for the very first Western Star Heifer Classic, encouraged the development of a statewide multi-breed event.  Through efforts of the North Dakota Stockmen's Association, the North Dakota Jr. Beef Expo was created.  Its first event held in 1995 in conjunction with the Western Star Heifer Classic and the Upper Missouri Valley Fair brought new educational activities and additional participation.  Over the years, entries have consistently ranged between 125-150 animals involving 60-80 youth.

The success and growth did not come without some challenges of which the biggest is financial. The annual operating budget now comes close to $7,000. In addition to purebred cattle breeders, support now includes many new local sponsorships, statewide agriculture organizations and national corporate investors. The growth of this event also created the need for additional facilities, equipment and labor. The first show was conducted in a newly developed, grassed outdoor show ring with some animals stalled outdoors. In recent years, all animals are stalled under roof and all activities are conducted in a new $1.5 million multi-purpose facility. Almost $15,000 has been spent to purchase animal handling and comfort equipment, and a central sound system to serve five building areas. Almost all labor to prepare facilities, conduct the event and clean-up (approximately 400 hours annually) is volunteered.

In reflection, it is amazing how a concern of two 4-H parents could lead to an event that has exceeded everyone’s dreams involving nearly 2000 youth and 2500 cattle entries in a 20 year period making it one of the state’s most prestigious youth livestock shows. The concept is now included in 20 plus county fairs.