76th Winter Show opens in Valley City
Weather may have slowed the turnout of the first day of the North Dakota Winter Show but officials still expect a good event for the 76th show. The Winter Show began here Tuesday and runs through March 10.By: By Keith Norman, The Jamestown Sun, The Jamestown Sun
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VALLEY CITY, N.D. — Weather may have slowed the turnout of the first day of the North Dakota Winter Show but officials still expect a good event for the 76th show. The Winter Show began here Tuesday and runs through March 10.
“It looks like a good start even if it was a little slow with weather issues this morning,” said Dawn Riley, manager of the event. “The afternoon is looking better with the tractor pull and the truck pull this evening.”
Registrations for the old-time tractor pull were about normal although it was anticipated a few participants would not compete because of the weather.
Riley said all of the vendor booths at the show had been rented for the entire run of the show although some were still arriving and setting up Tuesday afternoon.
Some vendors have displayed products at the Winter Show for decades.
“This is our 30th year of having a booth here,” said John Weron, president of Jamestown Communications. “It gives us a chance to see all our local customers but also draws people from a larger area. It is great way to meet customers.”
Weron said radio units that combined GPS and data capabilities were the big item this year.
“The ag market is still a big part of our business,” he said. “We look forward to coming here each year.”
Farmers are also participating in competitions at the Winter Show.
“We’ve been coming to the Winter Show almost since it started,” said Doug Schmit, of Schmit Farms at Oakes, N.D. “We’ve shown a lot of different breeds of cattle over the years.”
Schmit was competing in the Classic Steer show with a group of akaushi cattle. The Japanese breed is known for the fine marbling of the fat content within the meat as well as a quality taste and health benefits of the beef.
The Classic Steer show slaughters the animals and grades the carcasses on meat quality.
“These Japanese cattle have marbling and taste that is unbelievable,” Schmit said. “But the proof is in the meat. These cattle are not going to weigh as much but it is a very good eating experience.”
The emphasis on agriculture continues through the week with the Ag Challenge. The programs, vendors and free seminars emphasis production agriculture. Thursday is Horse Day with a pony pull at 9 a.m., draft horse pull at 11 a.m. and draft horse hitch class at 1:30 p.m.
Friday the activities shift to Home, Play and Get-A-Way exhibits. Featured events running Friday through the weekend include the NASCAR and golf simulators. Friday activities end with a concert featuring Jerrod Niemann and opening act Gwen Sebastian.
Saturday features two rounds of the PRCA rodeo at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. with a final rodeo scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.
“We’re looking forward to a good run,” Riley said. “The weather is improving and we have all kinds of exciting stuff planned.”
General admission and parking are free of charge at the Winter Show. Separate admission applies to the rodeos and concerts.
Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com
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