S.D. Legislators to Show Cattle at State Fair

By CnAgri2012-08-23 20:04:07 Print

Around 20 of South Dakota's legislators will try their hand at showing beef cattle at this year's South Dakota State Fair.

The 4th annual Legislative Beef Show -- a friendly showmanship competition among state legislators - pairs legislators with youth livestock exhibitors from their districts. The youth partner "fits" the animal, prepares it for competition and offers the legislator a crash course in livestock showmanship. The legislator then shows the animal in the show ring.

The top legislative showman will receive a gold belt buckle sponsored by First Dakota National Bank and have their name engraved on the "Legislative Showmanship Champion" traveling trophy (won by Sen. Larry Tidemann in 2011), which will be presented on the Grandstand stage before the Sept. 1 evening performance by the Steve Miller Band. The winning youth partner will also receive a prize.

"This friendly competition is a great way for the legislators to understand the hard work that our youth put into showing livestock at the State Fair," said Walt Bones, South Dakota Secretary of Agriculture. "It also gives the legislators some bragging rights among their colleagues."

The Legislative Beef Show begins at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 1, in the 4-H Livestock Complex. The competition is a joint project between 4-H,FFAand the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.