Oklahoma Youth Expo remains the world’s largest junior livestock show.
The stage is set for the 2020 Oklahoma Youth Expo and with entries closing last Friday, OYE is once again on track to be the world’s largest junior livestock show.
7,100 Oklahoma exhibitors are entered to exhibit over 22,000 head of cattle, sheep, goats and swine at this year’s OYE.
“Our entries are right on track with last year’s numbers,” said Executive Vice President, Kass Newell. “We’ve been anticipating another year of near record breaking numbers and here we are once again.
“It always amazes me how much our Oklahoma families value raising their kids through showing livestock,” Newell said.
New this year is the addition of the Ag Mechanics contest, which provides 4-H and FFA members who may not wish to show livestock an opportunity to compete at OYE.
Director of Operations, Bray Haven said the interest in this contest has far exceeded expectations when it was first announced last summer.
“We are excited to start this new contest and provide another opportunity for Oklahoma’s ag youth,” Haven said. “There are a lot of talented students who are incredibly skilled in the shop and this is an opportunity to showcase their talents.”
Total entries for the 2020 Oklahoma Youth Expo totalled 22,065 exhibits. A complete breakdown of entries follows:
Total Exhibitors: 7,100
Ag Mechanics: 102 entries
Breeding Gilts: 6,621 entries
Breeding Heifers: 1,765 entries
Breeding Ewes: 1,224 entries
Breeding Does: 1,396 entries
Market Barrows 6,730 entries
Market Steers: 827 entries
Market Wether Sheep: 2,048 entries
Market Wether Goats: 1,219 entries
The Oklahoma Youth Expo will take place March 10 – 20 at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds in Oklahoma City. A full schedule can be found online at okyouthexpo.com.
“We are eager to see everyone and wish you all the best of luck,” Newell said.
— Written by JD Rosman
The Oklahoma Youth Expo is the largest youth event in the state of Oklahoma. As a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, more than 7,000 exhibitors, their educators and families travel to Oklahoma City each spring from all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties to exhibit their livestock projects. Throughout the course of the ten-day event, OYE has a $25 million impact on Oklahoma City. For more information about the Oklahoma Youth Expo visit okyouthexpo.com.