Junior National Hereford Exposition returns to Grand Island

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) – The so-called ‘Granddaddy of Cattle Shows’ is back in Grand Island, and people from all across the country have brought their cattle to Fonner Park to hopefully win in their respective classes.

The Junior National Hereford Exposition returns to Fonner Park for the show’s 25th anniversary. Participants from the age of seven years old, all the way up to 22 are taking part in the competition. Organizer of the event, Amy Cowan, is thrilled to have the event back in central Nebraska for yet another year.

“It is fun to be back in Grand Island. We’ve had a couple other events here previously in our 25-year journey, but it is always good to be back in Grand Island,” Cowan said. “Our Hereford family really loves the Fonner Park facilities. It works very well for our event. It’s a nice central location. We have families from 41 states here, so we have over 800 National Junior Hereford Association exhibitors.”

For Thedford, Nebraska resident, Kennedy Hoffman, having the show in Grand Island makes things much easier for her and her cows.

“Oh, it’s so nice, last year we had to drive 10 hours to Madison, Wisconsin, and it was a long ride, but we got it done,” Hoffman said.

The 2024 Hereford Queen, Marie Prodell, said showing cattle is a special event for the people working with the cows, and their families.

“These kids, they spend early mornings, late nights out there working with their animals,” Prodell said. “They’re the kind of kids that devote their life to this. A lot of kids devote themselves to sports. The live set kids, this is their sport, this is a sport that they work in year round, day by day, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.”

Prodell said her experience helps her appreciate the work everyone puts in for this event.

“Being here and being someone that started her journey on her own learning about the breed, learning about how to build your genetic line, and seeing these kids being in that same position and telling me their story, and allowing me to share my story with them really means a lot to me as a Hereford breeder,” Prodell said.

The event runs through Friday on the Fonner Park grounds.

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