American Salers Junior National cattle show coming to Washington

Kids as young as 4 years old from seven different states will gather in Washington this weekend to show off their cattle.

The American Salers Junior National cattle show will take place June 27-30 at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Kids will have a chance to take part in trivia nights, barbecues and the main event — a cattle show on June 30.

Abagale Lingle, president of the National Junior Salers Association, says kids often start around 7 years old, though those as young as 4 are allowed to participate, and many keep showing cattle until they age out of the junior nationals program at 21.

Lingle, 20, has been showing cattle at junior nationals since she was 13.

“That’s the best thing about junior nationals. You get to start at such a young age and show for how many years, that the friendships you make are so strong,” she said. “It might be the only time at junior nationals where you get to see each other.”

She said kids will communicate on social media with the friends they make at junior nationals.

“When you get old enough and want to travel, you have someone in each little corner of the state, or in the nation almost,” she said.

There will be 63 kids attending the event at the Washington County Fairgrounds.

Contestants start preparing for the contest when they get their calves, usually in February, Lingle said.

“Most kids, every single day, you are washing or rinsing your cattle,” she said. “You have to practice walking them and practice as if you’re in the show ring to get your showmanship all ready so the cattle know how to set up properly.”

She says “ag kids” have a reputation for being hardworking.

“It’s the every single day, morning and night, daily hair care, that takes a lot of time and effort for these kids,” Lingle said.

The five-day event includes multiple different contests for the participants in areas like advertising, livestock judging, trivia, and public speaking, alongside the cattle shows.

Competitors also get to relax outside of the show, with events like movie nights and pool parties.

Lingle says the main cattle show events on June 30, and the team fitting competition on June 28, would be the main attractions for those interested in taking in the show.

“We’re more than welcome to have the community come out, we’d love to educate them with what we do,” she said. “Most of the time, you’re going to be seeing all the kids running around because they’re so busy with all these contests and events that are going on.”