Governor’s Beef show kicks off State Fair livestock events

The Colorado State Fair opened its gates Friday in Pueblo, answering the question “Where’s the beef?”

You could find it over at the Livestock Pavilion, where the “Governor’s Beef Show” kicked off a full weekend of competitive livestock events.

This fun event is sponsored each year by the Colorado Farm Bureau.

Kids from the FFA and 4H programs get paired up with VIPs and local celebrities, showing them the ropes and instructing them on the finer points of livestock showmanship.

Governor John Hickenlooper took the reins on a few heifers, as did our own Jon Karroll, Abby Acone, and Mike Everett.

The guest handlers have a short time to learn the basics of livestock presentation, and they are judged.

“It’s a great opportunity to talk to the 4-H and FFA kids, and find out how much pride they actually have in their projects” says Brent Boydston, the Vice President of public policy at the Fair, “[These kids are] working sun-up and sun-down with their animals, and not just the steers; the hogs, the sheep, the goats as well”

The kids participating Friday are from all over the state, and will compete in various livestock competitions during the Fair.

With any luck, they’ll go on to sell their animals at the Junior Livestock Auction Tuesday, where prize winning steers can go for upwards of $500,000.