Junior Livestock Show Is A Family Tradition For Many Oklahomans

People are drawn to the Tulsa State Fair for a little bit of everything. Some come for the rides, and others can't wait for the food. There is something for everyone, and a fair favorite for many families are the livestock shows.

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For more than 100 years, agriculture has been a huge part of the Tulsa State Fair. From exhibits, to tractor demonstrations, and the latest in ag technology and products, you name it, you could find it. During the Junior Livestock shows, it's a chance for 4H and FFA kids to show off their showmanship, their animals, and maybe even catch the eye of buyers, if they're fortunate enough to make the sale.

Katie Willis won Reserve Grand Champion Steer in 1997. Today she's the mother of three kids, who are all looking forward to showing at the fair this year.

"Being out there at 10-years-old, it was so overwhelming; and then whenever the judge came and picked me, I was smiling, and my dad said I was grinning from ear to ear. It was just exciting," Willis said.

Her family tradition of showing livestock started with her grandfather. Her uncles also showed in the 1960s. Before long, her mom showed at the Tulsa State Fair, and then it was Willis' turn.

"It was a good competition, but you also made friends. It was just a neat atmosphere," said Willis.

She said there is something special about the Tulsa State Fair.

"The county fair was more of a thing where you ran into people you saw all the time, but at the Tulsa State Fair you maybe saw these people once a year," Willis said.

Now, it's time for the next generation. Her children--Cooper, Morgan and Lexie--will each compete this year at the Fair.

"It's exciting for me; I have a blast doing it. I don't really care about the money; I just have fun showing," said 10-year-old Morgan.

Horses, cattle, and rural living are a big part of the family's lifestyle. And show animals take up a big part of their time.

       Lexie: "You got to wake up, and you got to go to the barn."

       Cooper: "First you wet it down."

       Morgan: "Wash them, rinse them, comb them."

       Cooper: "Put fly spray on it."

       Morgan: "Give them their feed, oil, and corn."

       Cooper: "After dinner, you go back out there."

       Morgan: "I think that's fun!"

"It's a lot of work, definitely, to have an animal in 4H and FFA. It's definitely a time commitment, but it teaches you a lot of values and a lot of work ethic that you don't learn anywhere else," said Willis.

While it is a lot of work, 4H and FFA kids grow to love their animals and learn a lot in the process.

"How to show them, how to do their hair, stuff like that, and how to wash them," said 10-year-old Lexis.

When the family found out the fair would hold livestock shows, even during the pandemic, they were thrilled.

"It's very important for those kids--just like kids getting back to school--it's good for them to go back to the show because they have worked hard," Willis said.

And her kids are ready to hit the ring.

"You walk them around the arena twice," 9-year-old Cooper said. "Then you pull them up and set them up, I guess twice."

"Every now and then I'll smile and stuff, but normally I'm pretty concentrated," Morgan said.

So as the old saying goes, sort of, "the livestock show must go on."

During a year when so many things aren't happening, hundreds of families are grateful their children will get to continue the tradition. Just like in years past, they'll make memories, and get their shot in the arena for the competition and the camaraderie.

The 2020 Junior Livestock Shows runs September 29-October 7.

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