Beef Expo: Riverton show draws record entries

Riverton – The 2009 Mountain State Beef Expo was held on March 14-15 in Riverton. The Eighth Annual Expo was held at the Central Wyoming College Equine Center and 103 entries participated from five different states.
    “The Expo had a record number of entries this year,” says Kent Haun, Mountain State Beef Expo board member. “The exhibitors are mostly 4-H and FFA members, though the show is open to anyone.”
    The Expo included heifer, steer and showmanship classes. The two-day show is unique for this region as each day has different judges, allowing exhibitors to show their cattle twice.
    “One change we implemented this year was to separate the heifers by breed,” continues Haun, of Riverton. “We believe this will draw more exhibitors in the future as they are able to compete within their breed. The class winners then compete together in the Grand Champion Heifer class.”
    Wells Fargo Bank of Riverton provided $1,000 in scholarship funds to eligible Expo participants. Applicants must be a Wyoming resident attending the University of Wyoming or a two-year Wyoming college. The scholarship committee of community representatives met Sunday to review the six 2009 applications.
    “In years past we’ve awarded two $500 scholarships,” Haun says. “This year one student stood above the rest and we awarded the full $1,000 to Chance Marshall, of Jackson, who is a student at UW.”
    Tegun Hitner, of Peyton, Colo. was the youngest exhibitor. The five-year-old showed in the Beginner Showmanship class on Saturday.
    Melissa Hemken is a correspondent for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at melissa.hemken@yahoo.com.