Showdown on the Plains sees another successful year

A total of 140 exhibitors between the ages of 6 and 21 brought their animals to the Showdown on the Plains at the Bank of Colorado Pavilion last Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 29-30.

Coordinated by the city of Holyoke recreation department and the Showdown on the Plains committee, the cattle show featured 80 breeding heifers exhibited Saturday and 92 showmen in the showmanship portion Saturday evening. On Sunday, 105 market animals were shown, including heifers and steers.

Recreation director Victoria Dunker was happy with the turnout for the event — which provided business to local hotels, restaurants and other businesses not only on Saturday and Sunday but in the days leading up to the event as participants arrived in town and checked in their cattle.

She pointed out that last year’s Showdown on the Plains, which also happened at the end of January, was the only cattle show around at that time due to COVID-19. She said the participation numbers this year were similar to those of last year, and Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming were all represented at the event.

“We had a lot of people returning and lots of new ones too,” Dunker said.

Chisum Grund and Chase Ratliff, both of Kansas, were the judges.

Dunker was quick to acknowledge all of the community support that made the event successful. She specifically recognized Showdown on the Plains committee members Tim and Monica Becker, Jeff Plumb, Bobby and Shauna Strecker, Jessie Stewart and Dustin Frank who, along with Dunker and her husband, Chase, helped organize the event.

“We all enjoy showing cattle, so that makes it fun, and we wanted to utilize the beautiful facilities at the pavilion,” Dunker said, adding that the event is another avenue of recreation for the kids. “It’s a really good way to impact the community and give back.”

She went on to further thank Holyoke Chamber of Commerce for running the concessions stand and making sure everyone was fed, as well as county personnel for keeping everything in order at the pavilion.

She said the volunteers at the event really helped to make sure everything ran smoothly, and she thanked the Phillips County commissioners for their continuing support.

Dunker added a big thank-you to all 50 sponsors of the event. “We really could not run the show without them,” she said.

Dunker said that booths from The Turquoise Chandelier and Legg Creations were also on hand at the show, and Legg Creations had Showdown on the Plains hoodies and shirts for sale.

She said all the elements came together to “really make for a good event for community members to come to and enjoy watching the cattle, do some shopping and eat some lunch.”

Dunker noted that the plan is to make this an annual event so participants can plan to attend every year.

Breeding heifer results from Saturday

Ring A top five breeding heifer winners from Saturday follow:

Vienna Sells-Jaime of Yuton, Nebraska, grand champion; Kennedy Hoffman of Thedford, Nebraska, reserve grand champion (Angus); Shae Stone of Eaton, third overall; Kennedy Hoffman, fourth overall (Hereford); and Malina Lindstrom of Elm Creek, Nebraska, fifth overall.

Ring B top five breeding heifer winners from Saturday follow:

Sells-Jaime, grand champion; Haxton Hoffman of Thedford, reserve grand champion; Kennedy Hoffman, third overall; Stone, fourth overall; and Karsyn Fetzer of Kersey, fifth overall.

Market animal results from Sunday

Ring A top five market animal winners from Saturday follow:

Stone, grand champion; Braceton Hauxwell of McCook, Nebraska, reserve grand champion; Bradie Midcap of Wray, third overall; Justin Pfannebecker of La Salle, fourth overall; and Colton Kroecker of Grant, Nebraska, fifth overall.

Ring B top five market animal winners from Saturday follow:

Hauxwell, grand champion; Kiah Songster of Friend, Nebraska, reserve grand champion; Stone, third overall; Pfannebecker, fourth overall; and Kroecker, fifth overall.