(Posted Dec. 21, 2015)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
To see one of the biggest cattle shows in Madison County in years, hoof it over to the fairgrounds in London next month.
On Jan. 30-31, the Madison County Cattlemen’s Association is coordinating a sanctioned BEST show, part of a statewide youth circuit organized by the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association.
“We’re expecting 300 to 350 head of cattle,” said Quinton Keeran, president of the local association.
The event, open to Ohio residents ages 8 to 21 years old, features two heifer shows, two steer shows, and showman-ship. Entrants have the opportunity to earn points and vie for titles.
“There are diehards who go to every show on the circuit, chasing points,” Keeran said. Others attend one or two shows, usually close to home, just for the chance to get out and show over the winter.
This is the first time the Madison County Cattlemen’s Association is hosting a BEST show. The group is providing labor and facilitating the show’s administration in partnership with the Madison County Agricultural Society (senior fair board) and Heritage Cooperative.
Keeran said the show brings many positives to the county. In addition to providing local youths with a convenient show option, the event puts to good use and showcases the new facilities constructed at the fairgrounds over the past couple of years. It also comes with economic benefits.
“With 300 to 350 head of cattle, there’s a potential for 500 to 800 people, and they will be looking for places to stay, visiting local restaurants and businesses, filling up at the gas stations in town. It’s good for the community,” he said.
On the flip side, the community can get involved in supporting the show. Organizers are seeking sponsorships and donations to cover the cost of awards and payouts.
To make a donation or for more information about the show, contact Quinton Keeran at qkeeran@gmail.com. For more about BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total), go to www.ohiocattle.org.
The Madison County Cattlemen’s Association promotes beef to consumers and encourages youth participation in agriculture. In 2015, the group sponsored a buyers’ lunch at the Madison County Fair livestock sale, the junior beef exhibitor poster contest, the junior beef exhibitor grooming clinic, and a chili cook-off that generated over $800 for the fairgrounds building fund. Among the many contributors who made these initiatives possible were Merchants Bank, Heartland Bank, Madison County Farm Bureau and Heritage Cooperative.
