In a year that saw the cancellation of high-profile shows like the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) and the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, cattle associations along with the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE), were able to put together a stock show for cattlemen and women.
The Cattlemen’s Congress, which took place Jan. 2-17 at the Oklahoma City Fairgrounds, drew an estimated 9,627 entries exhibited by 2,793 individuals from 44 states and Canada.
OYE holds its annual youth expo every year in March and last year launched the Exposition for the Youth of Oklahoma Fall Classic livestock show, which replaced the Oklahoma State Fair. In addition to the Cattlemen’s Congress, the staff planned other replacement shows this year, including the California Youth Ag Expo.
The OYE board, along with Bob Funk, OYE chairman, Jarold Callahan, CEO of Yukon, OK-based Express Ranches, Tyler Norvell, President of the Onward Foundation, and others had three months to put the show together, taking into consideration COVID-19 restrictions. Fortunately, the fairgrounds with 900,000 square feet of exhibit and show space did not have any other events at the time. They allowed the show to use some of the open-air barns for ventilation and other buildings to practice social distancing. Face masks were required in indoor arenas, stands, bathrooms and show rings. All exhibitors and attendees were required to sign a waiver and provide their own personal protective equipment such as hand sanitizer, face coverings and gloves.
Association reactions
At the inaugural 2021 Cattlemen’s Congress, the breeds and divisions exhibited included: Angus, Braford, Brahman, Brangus, Braunvieh, Charolais, Chianina, Gelbvieh, Hereford, Limousin, Maine-Anjou, Miniature Hereford, Red Angus, Santa Gertrudis, Shorthorn, Simmental, prospect Herefords, junior market steers, collegiate livestock judging, and open pen shows.
Some associations reported numbers for participation were up from previous years and sales were strong.
Chessie Mitchell, show program coordinator at Red Angus Association of America (RAAA), stated it was “the largest offering of Red Angus show cattle ever presented on an open show stage.” The RAAA had 600 entries at the National Red Angus Open Show, Junior Red Angus Regional Show and the National Red Angus Pen Show. In a press release, Mitchell also stated the association “was highly motivated to conduct a top-notch show on short notice, and I think it’s safe to say that was accomplished.”
Mitchell told WLJ, “We were more than pleased with Congress’s outcome and are very thankful for Oklahoma for opening its arms to our breed. The staff that put it on were top notch and, without a doubt, held a first-class show.”
Mark Anderson, executive director for the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF), told WLJ the January show is vital to NALF as they conduct their annual meeting, awards banquet, national sale and junior association fundraiser each year.
“The North American Limousin Foundation was very appreciative of the effort put forth by the Cattlemen’s Congress to host a national show of this caliber given the cancellation of the NWSS,” said Anderson. “Limousin exhibitors can get out in large numbers to exhibit cattle in both their junior and Medal of Excellence shows. The quality and entries in our pen shows were exceptional, and our exhibitors appreciated that they had an opportunity to get their cattle in front of potential buyers in front of the spring bull sale season.”
The NALF’s Level 1 Medal of Excellence Limousin Show was judged by Jack Ward of Plattsburg, MO, and Ward evaluated 105 females and 34 bulls. The Limousin and Lim-Flex Pen Show wrapped up the Limousin activities at the Congress, with the show having eight pens exhibited and Jason Hoffmann, Thedford, NE, evaluating the bulls.
“We can’t thank the folks here at the Cattlemen’s Congress enough for what they’ve done, giving us an avenue and a location for us to have our sale,” Sale Manager and Angus Regional Manager Alex Tolbert said in a press release. “The breeders stepped up in a year of change, and they brought us quality cattle and bulls with broad market appeal.”
The American Angus Association reported sales of $551,750 on 34 registered bulls averaging $16,227. The high-selling lot, Conley Verified 0853 consigned by Conley Cattle, sold for $77,500. The second high-selling lot, Wilks Guru 2035, consigned by Wilks Ranches of Eastland, TX, was purchased for $75,000. The Angus Foundation Heifer Package donated by Benoit Angus led off the sale and brought in a $35,000 donation to further the foundation’s youth, education, and research mission.
David Hobbs, director of activities for the American-International Charolais Association, told WLJ in an email it was devastating with the cancellation of the major shows and created a dilemma.
“The response of determined cattlemen in establishing the Cattlemen’s Congress provided a quality cowman’s replacement event,” Hobbs said. “The participation and results from a Charolais perspective were great. The 42nd National Sale saw 33 operations from 14 states and Canada making seedstock selections to average $16,034. A highly competitive Junior Heifer Show, Pen Shows, and the 52nd National Show saw exhibitors from 26 states and Canada.”
Rick Blanchard, managing partner at Silveira Bros. in Madera, CA, remarked to WLJ it was one of the most enjoyable shows in a long time. Blanchard said it was cheaper than NWSS, including the meals and hotel rooms when you look at expenses. Also, there was plenty of room to work with, and the interns went out of their way to make sure the stalls had everything they needed.
Mark Crawford, the managing member of Crawford Park Farming AG, who attended the show to bid, reached out to WLJ and saidthe Cattlemen’s Congress show was “just incredible considering the short amount of time they had to put it together.”
The highlight of the show for Crawford was Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), handing out awards during the Supreme Drive, a “best of the best” parade of breed champions modeled on a similar event at the annual Oklahoma Youth Expo.
“When other states said no, they’re shut down, in Oklahoma, we said, ‘Let’s go, let’s make it happen,’” Stitt said during the presentation. “In Oklahoma, we’re always going to fight for the ag community and this way of life.”
Future of Cattlemen’s Congress
The tradition of holding the NWSS since 1906 is something that could never be duplicated. The National Western Center’s Honoring the Legacy redevelopment campaign is expanding the historic yards and the new Stockyards Event Center for the January 2022 show.
The Oklahoma City Fairgrounds is also redeveloping by replacing the Jim Norwick Arena—also known as the Big House—with a new facility with 4,700 fixed seats, 2,600 retractable seats and amenities such as suites and box seating. The facility will also have a “connector” with an equestrian warm-up arena that ties together the new building and the Park’s Super Barn. According to the fairground’s website, completion of the building should take 18 to 24 months and could be open sometime this year.
The natural question is, what will be on cattlemen’s schedules in the next few years with the Cattlemen’s Congress’s success?
OYE officials stated initial sale reports indicated over $10 million in cattle and genetics were transacted during the two weeks of Cattlemen’s Congress.
Mitchell and Anderson stated they would survey members about what they would like to see in the coming years, assuming the Cattlemen’s Congress is an option.
“Based on the survey answers, we hope to decide this spring about the host for our 2022 National Red Angus Open Show,” said Mitchell.
Kass Newell, executive vice president of Oklahoma Youth Expo, told WLJ the organization received “nothing but positive comments” from exhibitors and associations. Newell said they had sent surveys to all the exhibitors.
“We will know more about the future of the event in the next month or so; we can’t nail down what next year will look like just yet,” said Newell. “As soon as we know the future, we will release that to the public as soon as we can.” — Charles Wallace, WLJ editor
