GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Those who found the Texas longhorn show at the Nebraska State Fair saw a good show with quality animals.
However, its out-of-the-way location, in an outdoor arena next to the Thompson Arena building, has disappointed some longhorn lovers.
“There's not much foot traffic,” said Vicki Smeal of Snyder, secretary of Nebraska Texas Longhorn Association. “We usually have a larger audience, but we're kind of off the beaten path here.”
Smeal said organizers of the longhorn show would like it to be in a building — one that get lots of passers-by stopping to look at the animals.
“We're pretty proud of these crazy animals,” she said.
Jana Hafer, public relations and livestock superintendent for the State Fair, said she has heard the concerns and is trying to figure out a different place for the longhorn show, possibly in the Big Red Barn closer to the marketplace.
“You live and you learn when you move to a new location,” she said.
Showing longhorns is a little different from showing other cattle breeds. The longhorn show is usually halterless.
Greg Ibach, director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture, said the show harkens back to a more traditional way of showing animals.
“It's kind of nostalgic,” he said.
Monday, the animals were let out of their pens and chased down an alley to a larger alley, where they were judged a few at a time.
Ibach said the longhorn was Nebraska's original beef animal.
“This is the breed that started the beef industry,” he said.
Texas longhorns were brought up on the cattle trails, and it wasn't until later that the English cattle breeds, like Angus and Hereford, were brought in, Ibach said.
“There are still many in Nebraska who raise the breed.”
Smeal said the numbers of cattle and exhibitors were down this year. Eight exhibitors brought 27 head of cattle to the show.
Smeal attributed the smaller number of cattle being shown to the economy as much as to the fair's move from Lincoln to Grand Island.
“The numbers are down, but the quality of animals is up,” Smeal said.
The cattle were judged on overall appearance, color and horn size.
Smeal said most people don't realize that the longhorn breed is a very docile animal, despite the large horns.
All of the animals, including the mother cows, have horns. Most calves are even born with very small horns.
Texas longhorns are easy to calve, and their beef is very lean. Smeal said the breed will graze a pasture that many other breeds will not.
Smeal said the problems at this year's show — wind, dust, no public address system and an out-of-the-way location — were not big ones. It was a good show, she said.
“All in all, it's been fun,” she said. “I just love showing my cattle.”
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