Open Livestock Show Returns to BV County Fair with BVU Influence

For the first time in 14 years, the Open Livestock Show returns to the Buena Vista County Fair through a collaboration with BVU's Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Resource Management.

Buena Vista University’s Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Resource Management worked with the Buena Vista County Fair in hosting the first Open Livestock Show at the fair in 14 years last month at the BV County Fairgrounds in Alta.

Eighty-five beef entries were shown by participants from Texas, Indiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and throughout Iowa.

“The coolest part of the show involved meeting and speaking with livestock producers from all over the Midwest. We have common interests and a common purpose.”

Rich Crow, Director of the Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Resource Management

“We had hoped to attract 40 to 50 entries,” says Rich Crow, Director for BVU’s Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Resource Management. “The average for open shows around the region this year was 70 entries. Our show ended up being bigger than most in the Midwest, and we were very happy to bring something back locally that hadn’t happened since 2006."

Students from the new BVU Ag Club helped manage the show, working with participants in registration and order of show. Crow joined Landon Sullivan, BVU Instructor of Animal Science, in handing out banners to the winners.

“During the event, we ended up having conversations with 30 high school students who wish to one day show livestock in college,” says Crow, who is working to establish the first BVU Livestock Show Team, in cooperation with Mike and Dana Christen of Circle C Cattle Company in Storm Lake, site of the BVU farm. “The coolest part of the show involved meeting and speaking with livestock producers from all over the Midwest. We have common interests and a common purpose. It was great being able to provide another competitive experience for high school students while helping to strengthen the Buena Vista County fair at the same time.”

Plans are already underway for the next BVU Open Livestock Show at the Buena Vista County Fair. The 2021 edition, Crow says, may expand into a second show, one featuring swine from across the Midwest and beyond.

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