By Katherine Wheatley

In December, the Division of Show and Fair Promotion conducted its fourth annual Kentucky Proud Youth Points Program Banquet in Frankfort. This event honored over 300 youth exhibitors, animals, and producers for excelling during the 2007 Kentucky Department of Agriculture-conducted show season. Every youth exhibitor, animal, or producer is automatically eligible for the program when an animal is shown at one of KDA’s district, preview, and/or expo shows in addition to the Kentucky State Fair. The Points Program was developed to recognize and reward exhibitors and producers for their hard work and effort throughout the show season.

The Awards Banquet was a huge success and will only get better in the future. Be sure to check out the new rules and regulations for 2008 on the web at www.kyagr.com.

The 2008 Kentucky Farm Bureau Beef Expo will be February 29-March 2 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. This event is for all beef cattle enthusiasts across the nation. This year, the Beef Expo features 11 breed shows and sales, a trade show, a 4-H/FFA livestock judging contest and a Pen Heifer Show and Sale where registered and commercial cattle are sold in pens of two or three. On Sunday, the Expo concludes with the highly competitive Junior Heifer Show, Market Steer Show, and Market Heifer Show. The expo will include over 600 cattle from 11 different
breed sales and the pen sale.

The animals being sold at this event are from the most elite and modern genetics and have all been screened for quality, conformation, and production. If you are looking at getting into the cattle business or just want to improve your herd, this is an event you won’t want to miss! Check out the Web site at www.kybeefexpo.com.

The 46th Annual Kentucky National Dairy Shows and Sales are rapidly approaching. This year, Ayrshire, Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein, and Jersey cattle will be shown and sold April 3-4 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville. More than 300 dairy cattle from throughout the United States will come to Louisville. Dairy producers will compete for over $40,000 in premiums and prizes.

In conjunction with the Kentucky National Shows and Sales will be the fourth annual Kentucky Kow-A-Rama. This event, scheduled for April 4-5, will be highlighted by a Junior and Open Dairy Show. The Kentucky Kow-A-Rama will host several hundred dairy cattle from all over the nation competing for over $17,000 in awards and prizes. This will be a must see event for anyone interested in the dairy industry!

For more information on any of these events, go to www.kyagr.com or contact the Division of Show and Fair Promotion at (502) 564-4983.