NORFOLK, Neb. – A lot has changed in the 75 years of the Norfolk Beef Expo.
Hosted by Northeast Community College at the Chuck Pohlman Ag Complex, the show is put on by the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce. Northeast officials and some ag students assist, including the Northeast livestock judging team. Northeast students are among those who show cattle in it.
It wasn’t always this way. The previous locations included the Norfolk Sale Barn on South First Street, with the show taking place on a portion of the concrete parking lot, surrounded by bleachers and spectators. The premium action took place in the sale barn. And the show operated without the help of Northeast and its students.
Since this was the 75th anniversary of the show, there was more than the usual reminiscing by those attending on Sunday, Sept. 8.
But one thing that has remained has been the quality of the cattle. Following the show, many of the market cattle are sold, with area businesses helping to support the 4-Hers and FFA exhibitors by purchasing their animals.
Malina Lindstrom of Stromsburg returned as this year’s judge. She said the quality of the cattle was outstanding, and it was exciting to have the breeding heifer portion of the show return this year.
“There weren’t the numbers with it just returning, but there were some really good ones to pick from on the top end,” she said.
Mike Roeber has been an animal science instructor and livestock judging coach at Northeast Community College since 1998. He plays a significant role in helping to make sure it runs smoothly.
“I have met and worked with Mr. Roeber a lot over the years in contests but judged competitively at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln,” Lindstrom said. “He called and invited me up and I was happy to do so.”
Roeber said numbers were up compared to the previous year, including nine more market animals and the addition of the breeding heifer show.
“None of us who serve on the council knew there used to be a breeding heifer show years ago,” Roeber said. “There was a history story that came out about three weeks ago that mentioned at one time there used to be a breeding heifer show, but they took it out when the show got too big. This year, we ended up putting it back in and ended up with 17 breeding heifers and 60 head total.”
This year, along with helping at the show, Roeber challenged his 11 livestock judging team members to listen to the reasons and learn the terminology the judge used. Northeast has one of three livestock judging teams at the collegiate level in Nebraska.
Three of the livestock judging team members showed at the expo, and some other Northeast students also showed. But unlike many years, none of the Northeast students showed in the grand champion selection.
Roeber said it has been a good partnership between Northeast, the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce and businesses over the years. And while the breeds and the size of the cattle have changed over the years, the Norfolk Beef Expo has retained it reputation as one of the state’s premier shows.
Norfolk Beef Expo Diamond
These 4-H and FFA exhibitors are competing for the grand champion steer toward the end of the Norfolk Area Chamber of Commerce’s Beef Expo on Sunday, Sept. 8, at Northeast Community College. Judge Malina Lindstrom of Stromsburg is shown in the center. (Northeast Community College)
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