FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bethany Erb
(805) 234-2024
Public Relations Chair
Wendy Hall
Western Bonanza Advisor
(805) 756-5398
Cal Poly Students Host 20th Annual Western Bonanza
in Paso Robles Feb. 13 -15
PASO ROBLES --
Steers, heifers, lambs, goats and hogs will all be on
display at the 20th Annual Cal Poly Western Bonanza Junior Livestock
Show Feb. 13-15 at the Mid-State Fairgrounds in Paso Robles.
Western Bonanza is a nonprofit
junior livestock show that was created as
a Cal Poly senior project in 1984. Now in its 20th year, the show has
evolved from its origins as a cattle show into a multi-species livestock
show and competition. Each year, roughly 60 Cal Poly students enrolled
in the livestock show management course provide all the labor and manage
all of the activities involved in the show.
Western Bonanza has grown
into one of the largest and most-respected
junior livestock shows on the West Coast, said Cal Poly Animal Science
Professor Wendy Hall, class instructor and Western Bonanza advisor.
Last year, it brought close
to 500 exhibitors to the Central Coast to
show more than 700 livestock animals, and even more are expected this
weekend.
During its existence, Western
Bonanza has proven to be a perfect example
of Cal Poly’s “learn-by-doing” philosophy, Hall said.
This year’s Western Bonanza
features an added market goat show and other
specialty events. Exhibitors will be involved in many special events
such as a scholarship award contest and a cattle fitting contest.
Western Bonanza awards over
$10,000 in cash prizes in addition to
several hundred awards provided to class winners and champions. The
corporate sponsors of the 2004 Junior Livestock Show include
Cargill-Nutrena Feeds, O.H. Kruse, Farmers Best Feed, Associated Feed,
Manna Pro, Inc., L.A. Hearne-King Brand Feeds and High Noon Feeds.
The schedule for this weekends’ Western Bonanza includes:
Friday:
Beef Cattle Fitting Contest, 6 p.m.
Saturday:
Heifer Show, 9 a.m.
Swine Show, 9a.m.
Sunday:
Steer Show, 8 a.m.
Lamb Show, 9 a.m.
Goat Show, 9 a.m.
Additional activities for junior livestock exhibitors to compete in
include showmanship and the Cal Poly scholarship contest.
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