Have You ‘Herd’
Sierra Winter Classic brings them in
Despite the frigid temperatures over the weekend, the 32nd annual Sierra Winter Classic cattle show kicked off on Saturday morning at the Porterville Fairgrounds.
Hundreds of young cattle enthusiasts from across the Central Valley hauled their show cattle to the barn in hopes of taking home a prize for their beloved steer or heifer.
What began in 1989 with a group of breeders, 4-H spear headers and proactive parents has become a highly anticipated event among cattle exhibitors in the area. Exhibitors from Visalia, Bakersfield,
Dinuba, Porterville and more hauled their cattle to the fairgrounds over the weekend to participate in this sought after Valley event. This show is held every year, just before the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, and is a project of the Porterville Junior Fair Board.
Exhibitors compete for prizes such as belt buckles, jackets, framed photos, cash prizes and more. Several sponsors including company vendors, local businesses,
cattle breeders and individual people continue to donate to their show contributing to its decades of success. The Sierra Winter Classic partners with the California Junior Livestock Association (CJLA), giving exhibitors a chance to rack up points that go toward the CJLA year end prizes for CJLA members.
The show, which was a Double Jackpot Show, featured two separate shows, one in Ring A and one in Ring B, where children and young adults led show cattle around the ring to be judged. The judges in each ring took their time looking at each head of cattle before determining winners. Cattle breeds judged during the show included Angus, Hereford, Shorthorn, Maineanjou, Charlais, Chi-x/ Chi Maine and Grade cattle.
“This is a great opportunity for the youth,” said Michael Orrosco. “I come out and support this event every year. It warms my heart to see just how much this show has grown.”
Gates to the show opened early at 5 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, allowing for exhibitors to ready their cattle and register or check-in at the show office. Shows began at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday.
Saturday brought out the steers first. British, AOC and Black steers were showed around each ring until around noon. Steers were led first in the prospect show, followed by the progress show, and then rounded out by the presentation of the Overall Supreme Steer. After both the prospect and progress shows a champion was named, before one individual took the biggest title of Overall Supreme Steer for 2020.
““It’s always exhilarating for me to watch my son in the ring,” said Amanda Stockton. “Although he didn’t take home a title this year, he is determined to present better next year and take home a Champion belt buckle.”
The Steer and Heifer Showmanship portion of the event began immediately after the completion of all the jackpot classes. Ring B featured both Peewee and Intermediate showmanship participants, while Ring A hosted Junior and Senior showmanship participants. Final weigh-ins for all Grade Heifers was called between 2 and 3 p.m. before the ground were locked down and the barn closed for the night.
As dawn broke on Sunday, the barn and gates had already opened at the fairgrounds, welcoming in any guests eager to watch the day’s show. At 8:30 a.m., in similar fashion to the previous day, the steer and heifer showmanship competition began. Both Ring A and Ring B drew in guests to their perimeters. A Showmanship Shootout, sponsored by Mike and Leslie Rivas and Woodlake Growers Supply, awarded one impressive competitor the grand prize of $1,000.
Heifer shows began after the shootout in both rings. Parents encouraged their children from the sidelines as they grasped onto the cattle’s lead to walk them around the rings. After completing a full lap around the ring, competitors lined their cattle up side by side for the judge to inspect. Each head of cattle was critically looked over, from the way they held their heads up to how they walked to how sturdy and low to the ground they were, before the judge made his final decision. After all of the winners had been named for each class, an announcement was made over the PA system a Grand Champion would soon be chosen.
Winners from each class gathered at the entrance gates of their respective rings, before the paraded in leading their winning cattle. The judge then took extra time watching the cattle and inspecting them. As they waited, several competitors had to lead their cattle in a circle before settling them back in line and positioning them for the best presentation. Once a Grand Champion was chosen, exhibitors began to pack up their equipment, and their cattle, before heading home on Sunday evening.
“I’ve been very impressed with the kids,” said show judge Trevor Rosso. “It was an incredible showing of cattle, but the kids were even more impressive.”
Due to some last minute technical difficulties, the official results for this event weren’t available. A full list covering the winners of each class and the Grand Champions for the 2020 Sierra Winter Classic will be available in The Recorder later this week.