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Indiana set to host Simm junior national cattle show

By MEGGIE. I. FOSTER
Assistant Editor
 
COLUMBUS, Ind. — In just a few short months, hundreds of junior exhibitors will roll into the Bartholomew County Fairgrounds for some genuine Hoosier hospitality and the opportunity to exhibit some of the best Simmental cattle in the nation, at the American Junior Simmental Assoc. (AJSA) National Classic show.

But according to show coordinator Jill Harker, the AJSA Classic planned for June 27-July 3 is much more than just a cattle show.
“One thing that makes the Simmental association unique is the educational component,” said Harker, who added that junior exhibitors participating in the Classic must also take a cattlemen’s quiz and present two different speeches.

Her father-in-law, John Harker – who serves on the national board of directors for the American Simmental Assoc. – said, “We use education as a method to teach the kids about Simmental cattle and the cattle industry, in general.

“We hope the kids leave the Classic feeling that the show itself is only a very small part of the experience; yet fun, camaraderie and education is the biggest part of it.”

In addition to the educational element of the Classic, there are also a variety of social events planned for the junior participants, including a greased watermelon relay, 3-on-3 basketball tournament and a corn hole tournament.

“I’m really looking forward to the greased watermelon relay; it was my idea, I came up with it and I really think it will be fun for all the kids,” said Alessa Hege, former AJSA trustee and awards chair for the Classic. “The great thing about our show is the opportunity for the young kids to interact with the older kids and just have a good time together.”

For the old-timers, the Classic will offer a showmanship class based on nominations for adults over the age of 35. This event is designed to be fun, and contestants are encouraged to be creative with their entries and costumes, Jill Harker said. The winner will go home with a golden show stick.

The weeklong event will conclude with an awards banquet and a dance. The dance, unlike in previous years, will serve as a community service project to assist families of Columbus, who are still facing challenges from the flood of 2008 that devastated the local community.

Dubbed “Christmas in July,” organizers will charge an admission fee for the dance in the form of a nonperishable food or toiletry item. The items will then be donated to local families in need.

“People are just in need of basic supplies and we decided to give back just as they gave to us,” Harker said. “All of us were affected in one way or another. You just don’t realize what Mother Nature can really do until it hits closer to home, like it did in Columbus.”
She said typically, the Midwest states have some of the larger attendance records. “We figure somewhere around 250 junior exhibitors and upwards of 300 cattle entries,” she said, adding the Simmental association is unique in that junior exhibitors are limited to only three entries.

“Entries may go over 300 or possibly under, the economy is generating a lot of uncertainty; however, we’re pretty certain it’s going to be a good turnout with 400 to 500 people in total, from 12 to 18 states across the nation.”

According to Harker, the last time the Classic was hosted in Indiana was in 1990, when it took place in Terre Haute. Regional shows have been hosted in the Hoosier state in 1992, 1993, 1994 and 2001. Organizers expect in excess of 60-80 volunteers during the show to put on true Hoosier hospitality in Columbus.

“We’ve had people who’ve stayed at our house on the way to the Classic or regional shows and they always say, ‘Boy, you Hoosiers sure know how to put out hospitality.’ It’s all about relaxing and having a good time, and that’s exactly what we hope to accomplish at the Classic,” she said.

Harker and her father-in-law want to extend a big “thank you” to the many folks involved at the ground level of planning.
“It’s important to know how much we appreciate the participation and assistance from local breeders in Columbus,” said John Harker. “We also hope this event helps put Columbus on the map to host similar events in the future.”

Harker also named some of the Classic’s sponsors, including Simmental Breeders Sweepstakes, Lucas Cattle Co., CountryMark Co-op, the Michigan Simmental Assoc., Hudson Pines Farm, Farm Credit Services of Mid-America, Silver Towne Farms, Huffer One, Inc., Cargill and Acco-Showmaster Feeds.

Entries for the Classic are due by May 12 and no late entries will be accepted. For more information or to download a complete schedule and registration form, visit www.breedingcattlepage.com/INSimmAssoc/index.htm or www.simmental.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=125&Itemid=299

4/30/2009