Buffalo vs. Bison: What’s the Difference?

stockshowIn The Yards, Livestock Shows, NWSS Livestock Blog

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between buffalo and bison? They’re actually the same thing! Bison (Bison Bison) is the American Bison or more commonly known as the American Buffalo. Billy Joe Dilley, a long-time 30-year expert of the bison program at the National Western has seen many buffalo come through the yards and knows their attitude better than … Read More

Sheep On A Saturday On The Hill

stockshowLivestock Shows, NWSS Livestock Blog

With the last weekend of the 2018 National Western Stock Show upon us, the Junior Breeding Sheep and Open Wool Show was an event attended by many exhibitors and guests.  The show began with two divisions of showmanship including nearly 50 entries. In the Breeding Sheep Show, approximately 300 junior and open breeding sheep were shown.  “Numbers are up. This is … Read More

The 2018 National Western Stock Show Grand Champion Steer Sets New Records

stockshowLivestock Shows, NWSS Livestock Blog

For Immediate Release: January 19, 2018               Contact: Karen Woods, [email protected], 303-299-5522 Denver, Colo. –The standing room only crowd at the 2018 Auction of the Junior Livestock Champions roared as the Grand Champion Steer sold for a record high $140,000, an increase of $5,000 over last year.  The top eight champion animals tallied generous sales of $434,000. … Read More

Twenty Years in the Making

stockshowLivestock Shows, NWSS Livestock Blog

Wednesday night wasn’t just a big night for the Rodgers and Lackey family who won Grand and Reserve Grand Champion Junior Market Swine, respectively. In the background, another family was experiencing overwhelming emotions. That family is the Heimer’s, led by Jesse Heimer of Heimer Hampshires based in Taylor, Missouri, who raised both champion pigs, and began this tradition of winning … Read More

An Insiders Perspective

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Joe Epperly studies the exhibitors in the first class of the Junior Market Steer Show and pulls calves to be placed. The kicker: he’s not the judge.  Epperly is the chosen ring manager of today’s steer show. His job is to coordinate between the three actual judges and the livestock coordinator for tallying scores. He also makes sure that the judges get … Read More

Tibetan Sauce

stockshowIn The Yards, NWSS Livestock Blog

A1 Steak Sauce is found on tables of meat eaters across the country. However, one particular Steak Sauce will not be eaten. Kylie Wagner of Bo Creek Ranch in Lenora, Kansas, has brought her 2-year-old pet steer yak named Steak Sauce with the ear tag A1 to the National Western Yak Pen Show.  “Steak Sauce” was originally in the butcher … Read More

So You Think you’re a Cattle Breed Expert?

stockshowLivestock Shows, NWSS Livestock Blog

They’re not miniature, they’re mainly black, and naturally polled. Can you guess which breed of cattle I’m describing?  According to the American Aberdeen website, the Lowline breed originated from Australia in 1929 and were developed from the Angus breed. There was a study conducted at the Trangie Agriculture Research Center in Australia to determine whether a smaller or larger animal … Read More

A Dynamic Duo

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Today at the Simmental Female Show, a dynamic duo was judging. Father and daughter team John Grimes and Lindsey Hall, respectively, judged the Simmental Percentage and Purebred Female Open Shows.  Grimes said that he and his daughter have judged plenty of times together at home, but this is the first time to do it in the show ring.  “We hardly … Read More

Being Apart of Something Bigger

stockshowIn The Yards, Livestock Shows, NWSS Livestock Blog

The National Western Swine Show would not be possible without the help of many volunteers and organizations who play a role in this great industry.  As being an affiliate show with the National Swine Registry (NSR), there are certain rules exhibitors must follow in order to exhibit at the National Western, one of which is having a valid pedigree for … Read More