The Nebraska State Fair will launch two new open cattle shows in 2014. The first is an Open Junior Breeding Heifer Show, which will be held Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. in the Five Points Bank Arena. This show will be open to any junior exhibitor who is enrolled in 4-H or FFA or is a member of a junior breed association, says Bill Angell, state fair livestock superintendent.  Nebraska residency is not required, he adds.

The entry fee is $25 per head and the entry deadline is Aug 10.  Go to the State Fair website for entry information.

Nebraska State Fair to Hold Two New Cattle Shows

Registration papers must be in the sole name of the exhibitor at least 30 days prior to the start of the fair.  Original papers must be available for inspection at the show.  Junior breeding heifers may also be exhibited in the Open Breeding Cattle classes with an additional fee, as well as the Open Class Jackpot Feeder and Breeding Calf Show.  There is no limit to the number of animals an exhibitor may enter in this division.  Substitutions within the same class and same owner only will be accepted until August 15.

Classes for this initial year will be available for Angus, Charolais, Gelbvieh/Balancer, Hereford (polled and horned show together), Limousin (Limousin and Limflex show together), Red Angus, Shorthorn and Simmental (purebred and percentage show together) females.

There will also be an Other Breeds division for those breeds not listed. If any breed fails to have 10 entries, the heifers will be placed into the Other Breeds division.  Within each breed there will be a Cow/Calf class, according to Angell. The calf must be halter broke. Calf must be the cow's most recent natural calf and be no more than 280 days of age on the day of the show.  Calf must be bred and owned by the junior exhibitor.  There will also be an all-breed showmanship class.

Pre-entry is required, but no entry fee is required.

Premiums will be $50 for first, $40 for second and $30 for third place. A breed champion will receive $75 and a reserve breed champion will receive $50.  Following the individual breed shows, there will be an overall Supreme Champion Junior Breeding Female which will pay $400 and a Reserve Supreme Champion Junior Breeding Female will pay $250.

The second open show in 2014 will be for Miniature Herefords, according to Angell.  Miniature Herefords are a smaller version of the Hereford Breed and are registered in the American Hereford Association Register.

The Miniature Herefords have been shown across the country in some of the largest livestock shows, including the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo.; the North American International Livestock Show in Louisville, Ky.; the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, the Iowa State Fair and the Star of Texas State Fair.

Maximum hip height to be shown is 48 inches for mature bulls and 45 inches for mature females. The Miniature Hereford breed is a large favorite of the American public no matter where they are shown, Angell points out. The cattle will be in the barns Aug. 26 through Aug. 28.  Their show will be on Aug. 27.

For more information on these or any other livestock events, go to the State Fair website at www.statefair.org or call the Nebraska State Fair Livestock Department at 308-384-0624.