They’re baack: Livestock start arriving at Colorado State Fair
A state fair wouldn’t be complete without its livestock, and many sheep and hogs have begun to occupy the grounds of the Colorado State Fair in Pueblo.
Thursday morning, different animals from all over the state arrived in Pueblo to compete in the fair’s many livestock competitions.
For many of the competitors and their families, the atmosphere is all smiles. However, once the competitions kick off, things may change. All of the kids and their animals want to win.
“We take hogs very seriously,” said Carson Steinke. The teenager’s hog’s name is Pop; he is seven months old but already weighs 290 pounds. “You got to compete to win, and we are definitely trying to win.”
Livestock competitions will be going on throughout the fair. However, animal owners will tell you many months of preparation goes into their animals before they are even ready to be seen before a judge.
Seventeen-year-old sheep owner Chloe Sandy and her family have been bringing animals to the state fair for five years, and she says the stakes only get higher and higher every year.
“We used to be beginners and we didn’t really know what we were doing, and now we have a better idea of what we are doing,” said Sandy who has multiple sheep competing. “We want to compete and show how we have improved over the last few years.”
Sandy says the training and work that goes into the animals equals to effort put into a full-time job.
“Typically we are down at the barn for four or five hours per morning and at night.”
“A lot of these kids get up at five in the morning to do their chores with the animals,” explained livestock extension agent Marlin Isenach. “Also, if they exercise them, they got to do it when it is cool, either in the early hours of the morning or late at night.”
In the past, Isenach has served as a judge. This year he is helping to make sure the animals are comfortable. Isenach says the lessons learned here for these kids are invaluable.
“When they grow up, they’ll know what responsibility is,” said Isenach. “That is something we can’t overexplain today.”
In the end, those participating in the events say the Colorado State Fair’s competitions are just a little more special than other ones.
“You come into Pueblo and are able to compete while seeing family and friends that we haven’t seen around the state,” said Ivan Steinke, Carson’s dad. “So there is just a great fellowship of competition.”
Cattle have yet to arrive on the fairgrounds. They are expected to arrive Friday morning before the gates open to the public.
Livestock competitions including the horse shows will take place every day over the eleven days that the fair is open.
