WHEATLAND – It could be argued the world of stock shows and livestock judging is like a sport. While there are no time-outs or referee whistles, there are measured goals and time frames where paperwork must be turned in and animals must be weighed, vet-checked, groomed, and prepared to show in an often noisy and active environment. There is a competitive aspect to stock shows and, of course, “fans” in the crowd. Though animals and how well they conform to desired breed characteristics is the focus of livestock competitions, the people showing them have a learning curve to make sure the animal is shown to its greatest potential, often among stiff competition.
The hard work and dedication it takes to bring home the coveted ribbons and banners has paid off for some local residents at the 2024 National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colorado.
Wheatland High School freshman Kaidyn Kasun started showing animals in 4-H at the age of seven with a bucket calf at the county fair. At eight she showed a breeding market calf, then expanded from there.
Kasun said her mom thought, at first, her showing days would be short-term, but Kasun took to livestock competitions like a duck to water. From her perspective, “I've got this opportunity to gain experiences for a lifetime. I need to take it.”
Kasun has raised and shown a variety of livestock from common feed lot animals with unknown parental backgrounds to animals with proven genetics. Some of them have started a bit wild, others more docile, but the challenge and thrill of accomplishment keeps her going out every day to take care of those animals and prepare them for competition. Surprisingly, one of the first and most important parts of that preparation is to get them used to a hose, water and a livestock blow-dryer.
“With wild ones it takes a little longer, you have to take your time and build a bond, so you don't rush things,” Kasun said.
Kasun’s love and appreciation for her animals, as well as judging and showing livestock, has seen her in the arena as often as she can get there. “My dream is to go to college on a livestock judging scholarship, and I want to work in agriculture,” Kasun said, adding she has a more near-term goal to win state fair.
To achieve those goals, Kasun compared her plan to traditional sports: you must practice, train and be consistent. Even in the off-season. “It's like a travel sports team, too. Your parents take you to the shows,” she added.
She's off to a good start in accomplishing her goals. Not only is Kasun a member of the award-winning Wheatland FFA Chapter, but she has also shown both goats and cattle. From her time in the arena, she has gained recognized showmanship skills, evidenced by winning a showmanship award at the Northern Livestock Expo in Cheyenne last fall. This year she placed third overall with her market heifer “Venus” at the NWSS and fourth overall at the Black Hills Stock Show in South Dakota with her prospect market steer “Pluto.”
“I was so excited with Venus when I first saw her. She is a calm-tempered animal and our personalities match,” Kasun said. “She's one of the better animals I've had in my career.”
While she has definite personal goals, she isn't only looking out for herself. She wants to share her love of livestock shows with others.
“I love seeing little kids working with animals, I love seeing them judging livestock. At this point it's been bred into me,” Kasun laughed. “It's like participating in a sport since you're three years old. It's what you do, what you're known for. I'm glad people know me for how I show. Eventually I want to have my own operation and raise quality animals and give back to the community.”
Another Wheatland couple shares Kasun’s love of the “sport” of livestock shows, but their focus is on maintaining and improving genetics within their chosen breed.
Larry and Christine Alexander have a small Highland cattle operation, and their animals have been getting a lot of attention nationally since the couple from Holy Cross Ranch started showing in 2008. With only eight cows and a breeding bull, they are considered a “hobby” operation.
Hobby or not, a wall of awards shows their cattle have what judges of the breed are looking for. This year their prospect bull calf, Holy Cross Finn, was declared champion in the Intermediate Bull Calf Division of NWSS. Their heifer, Trinity's Prairie Rose, won reserve champion in the Junior Heifer Calf Division.
Holy Cross Iron Mike (one of the calves sired by Holy Cross's breeding bull, Spring Creek General) has won ribbons in some big shows around the country by his current owner, including Champion Intermediate Yearling Bull at the NWSS. One year, Holy Cross Black Jack's semen “straws” sold for $1,000 each at the NWSS. Typically, those sell for a few hundred dollars.
“It's hit and miss. Not every year is a miss, but we've been frequently in the upper part of the class,” Christine said. “I don't have the eye to see what the flaws are in my animals, so I let the judges critique them. Then we know we know we are producing good genetics.”
They then take that information and apply it to their breeding program by choosing to only keep heifers that have placed in the upper part of their respective classes.
This year, the NWSS had more Highland cattle entered in the competition than any other single breed in the show. According to the Alexanders, interest in the breed is growing.
“It is a sought-after breed. People like their hair, they are docile, they are good eating with the lowest cholesterol of any breed, and I've even seen people ride them,” Larry said. “They also don't get brisket disease in high altitudes.”
The Alexanders shared, Highland cattle are easy keepers: maintaining weight with just foraging on pasture and hay, and are a calm, relaxed breed. While there can be wild ones, the Wheatland couple chooses to only keep the more docile ones for breeding.
“It is quite enjoyable. You never know what color you're going to have, like an Easter egg,” Christine said about the breeding aspect of their operation. “You can have a black bull and a red cow and end up with a yellow, dun, red, black, white or silver calf.”
The Alexanders often have others show their stock, and they especially want to give opportunities and experience for young people like Kasun to show an animal in competition.
“I enjoy the opportunity to let others do the showing. I like to put out to 4-H kids, if they would like to do that (and with parental permission) they can go with us to show,” Christine said, adding as an example, “One year we heard about a 4-H student who really wanted to show, but missed the entry date deadline. We contacted her and arranged for her to show one of our Highlanders.”
Grateful for the blessings and miracles that led them not only to a great herd of enjoyable animals, but for leading them to their current home in Wheatland, Larry and Christine said they want to glorify God in all they do.
“We named our operation the Holy Cross Ranch because we honor God in all He's done for us,” Christine said. “He's extremely blessed us and opened doors to meet up with a lot of nice people who've helped us along the way.”
Larry explained the Highland Cattle Association has a nice junior program that takes kids under their wings, and the “highland community is a good community. We look out for each other.”
“We've been blessed with the animals and the way we've been able to make a name for ourselves … We're a small operation, but we are able to win with what we have, and people want our animals. It's the blessing of God on that,” Larry said.
Madison McIntosh, while unavailable for an interview, also placed well at the show. She received second place in Division 1, Class 3 in the Open Prospect Show Program with her 678-pound prospect steer, and third place in Junior Market Beef, Class 3 Market Steer with her 1,295-lb. crossbred steer, according to 2024 NWSS results.
For more information on NWSS, go to nationalwestern.com; for more information on the American Highland Cattle Association, see highlandcattleusa.org.
