Youth, animals to gather for 2nd Michigan Livestock

Expo is largest ever statewide, multi-species livestock show, sale

LANSING, July 16, 2010 - Expected to be the largest ever statewide, multi-species livestock show and sale, the second annual Michigan Livestock Expo for youth gets under way this weekend, July 17-18 and July 20, at the Michigan State University (MSU) Livestock Pavilion.

What it is
The Michigan Livestock Expo is for youth, ages 8 to 20, and provides young people from across the state a centrally located event to exhibit and sell a variety of farm animals including beef cattle, hogs, sheep and goats, as well as dairy products.

Why it's unique
Most livestock shows and sales are local or regional in nature, and are limited to fewer animal species, oftentimes just a single species.

What's special about the 2010 Michigan Livestock Expo
Nearly 500 young people from the Upper and Lower Peninsulas and all corners of the state have pre-registered to show as many as 1,000 head of livestock - more than twice the farm animals exhibited at last year's inaugural event. Another 200 youth are expected to participate in conjunction with the Michigan Dairy Expo.

Also, all activities this year will take place at the MSU Livestock Pavilion. Last year, several exhibition activities were held at the Ingham County Fairgrounds. The change in venue marks the first time the MSU Livestock Pavilion will host an event of this magnitude because, as with local and regional livestock shows and sales, the pavilion typically hosts events that feature fewer animal species or just one species at a time.

"Based on our projections, the second annual Michigan Livestock Expo will easily go down as the largest ever statewide, multi-species livestock show and sale in Michigan to date," said Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB) livestock and dairy specialist Ernie Birchmeier, one of the Expo co-organizers.

"It's also shaping up to be a banner event for the MSU Livestock Pavilion and the Michigan young people who are the impetus behind the Expo and its overarching theme of 'Believe, Build, Grow: Our Youth and Our Agriculture,'" said Birchmeier.

Additional information
Youth compete in exhibition activities that judge their animal rearing skills and talents in the show ring. Award-winning beef cattle, hogs, sheep and goats, as well as dairy products representative of award-winning cattle from the Michigan Dairy Expo, advance to a "Sale-Abration" auction.

This year's exhibition activities for beef cattle, hogs, sheep and goats take place July 17-18. Dairy exhibition activities are July 20 in conjunction with the Michigan Dairy Expo. Both sets of exhibition activities culminate with the Sale-Abration auction on July 20.

Youth typically apply earnings from the auction to their current or future college expenses and/or invest the money back into their youth livestock projects. Proceeds above a sales cap support the Michigan Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships and educational awards to youth involved in livestock exhibition activities.

Last year's inaugural auction raised $100,600 for youth thanks to purchases by more than 60 single and collective buyers who bid on 31 award-winning animals and dairy products.

The Michigan Livestock Expo is sponsored by a large group of agricultural supporters, including the Michigan Farm Bureau, GreenStone Farm Credit Services, United Producers, Inc., Kalmbach Feeds, Varnum Law Firm, Michigan Milk Producers Association, Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and Michigan State University.

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Media contacts:

Ernie Birchmeier, Michigan Livestock Expo co-organizer and Michigan Farm Bureau Livestock and Dairy Specialist, cell: (810) 614-8502
Jill Corrin, Michigan Farm Bureau Media Relations Manager, office: (517) 323-6585