Junior Livestock Associaton gears up for Fair showing

Cattle, sheep, goats and pigs will be in large supply over the course of the five days of this year’s Clark County Fair, thanks in large part to the Clark County Junior Livestock Association’s (CCJLA) efforts. Elementary to high school students will be competing in several livestock classes with hopes of winning and selling their stock.

With numbers steadily rising after record low participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, participants will be traveling all over from Southern Nevada, including Clark, Lincoln and Nye counties. Competitors will range from ages nine to 19, and be a part of 4-H and FFA.

This year’s lineup will be action-packed, with a little something for everyone. Starting on Wednesday, competitors will be able to register their livestock and turn in any record books, with weigh-ins and check-ins taking a large portion of the day. Children will have the chance to be judges themselves, as many compete in the state FFA Livestock judging contest and Moapa Valley Livestock Judging.

Thursday brings with it the first market classes, starting with swine, lambs, goats and wrapping up with steers. Other classes will include animals that were only born in Clark County, and the “homegrown class,” where children have gone all-in and raised their own animals on their property. All market classes will be competing for cash prizes.

Friday will feature the highly anticipated showmanship classes, where contestants will be competing for belt buckles. Classes will begin with swine, lambs, goats and once again end with cattle. At the end of the day, the top two winners of each class will participate in a highly entertaining round robin contest. Competitors will be instructed to show a steer, lamb, goat and pig one after the other, even if they’d never shown one before the event. All round robin participants will also assist with the Peewee Tournament Sunday afternoon.

On Saturday, the winners of the last few days will finally be recognized in the awards ceremony, which will be promptly followed by the livestock auction at noon. All members of the public are encouraged to attend. Those interested can pick up their auction numbers then and there. Animals will be butchered in May, with butchering fees included in the animal’s auction price. This year’s butcher will be Nay’s Meats, but those purchasing can choose another if they have a preferred merchant.

Wrapping up on Sunday will be fun and games. Of note is the Peewee Showmanship Tournament, where young kids will be able to try their hands at showing goats and lambs, even if they’ve never touched an animal before. Sheep washing and shearing will also happen that day.

“We just encourage everyone to come and have fun with this. The kids are going to come and do their best, and they’ll need all the cheers that they can get. It’s a great way to come support your local kids,” concluded CCJLA assistant secretary Maggie McMurray.