DENVER — The inaugural Red Angus Youth Expo will be the highlight of the summer for many Junior Red Angus members. Hosted by the Red Angus Association of America, the event is scheduled for June 9-14, at the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha, Oklahoma. This event will provide opportunities for youth and their families to engage in educational events, competitions and the national youth heifer, steer and bull shows. The theme of the event is "Reds on Route 66."

The six-day event will include four educational workshops designed to help participants understand what it takes to be profitable in the beef industry. Fun activities provided for entertainment and participant engagement include Little Buck-A-Roo activities, hospitality socials and a family fun night. The final evening of the event will feature an awards ceremony and dinner to highlight the achievements of JRA members.

A variety of contests will be held during the event, focused on developing career, leadership and stockman skills among the participants. Contests include photography, ad design, professional development, operational sales, livestock judging and skill-a-thon. A sweepstakes award will be presented with points given for participation in each of the six contests, and additional points awarded for a top five placing in each contest. Additional team-based competitions include team fitting and state herdsmanship.

The cattle show not only includes the regular female, steer and bull shows, but incorporates additional divisions inclusive of the larger beef industry. The phenotype-genotype show will require judges to evaluate each animal’s genetic profile along with their phenotype, and will provide juniors an opportunity to learn about the role of EPDs and selection indexes in seedstock selection. The inaugural Premium Red Baldy and American Red female shows will champion the commercial cattle industry and provide education about RAAA’s value-added programs.

A non-terminal carcass contest will be held using ultrasound technology. This contest is designed to reflect fed cattle marketing grids used in the industry, while rewarding animals reaching industry ideals for carcass weight, quality grade and yield grade. Steers enrolled in the carcass contest are also eligible to show in either the purebred steer show or the percentage steer show.

The Red Angus Stakeholders Foundation, designed to support activities improving the Red Angus breed, was one of the first sponsors of the Expo. RASF President Steve Andras said, “The youth of any organization is what keeps it growing and prosperous. We never want to take our youth for granted. Therefore, we must support and encourage our youngest Red Angus enthusiasts. Most of all, we want them to know that they are valued and have our full support!”

The Red Angus Youth Expo is still accepting sponsorships and will provide corporate partners and breeders exceptional brand promotion. Information detailing the benefits of each sponsorship level can be found in the sponsorship packet on the RAYE website.

Important RAYE deadlines are quickly approaching, including the entry and ownership deadlines on May 1. All information regarding the Red Angus Youth Expo, including the 2024 RAYE premium book, can be found at redangusyouthexpo.com. Questions can be directed to Taylor Dorsey, RAAA junior program coordinator, at youthexpo@redangus.org.

The Red Angus Association of America serves the beef industry by enhancing and promoting the measurable advantages of Red Angus and Red Angus-influenced cattle. RAAA provides commercial producers with objectively described cattle by implementing new technologies and using scientifically sound principles that quantify traits of economic importance to beef producers in all segments of the beef industry. For more information, visit www.RedAngus.org.

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Red Angus Youth Expo Logo Link

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2024

For more information, contact:
Katie Martin, Assistant Director of Communications
katiemartin@redangus.org