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Expo grows ag

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Friday, March 23, 2012 9:04 PM
As the big wheels turn, Bill Cundiff and Glen Spencer of Four Corners Antique Power Club explain the action of the steam engine that was used to pump water from a deep well in New Mexico. The engine was part of the antique tractor display at the Four States Agricultural Exposition held March 15-18 at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. Although attendance at this year’s expo appears to be down, expo board President Dusty Beals said that, overall, the event was a success.

Despite smaller crowds and gate receipts than last year, the Four States Agricultural Exposition was no burr in Montezuma County’s saddle.

Even though numbers were low, the crowds were happy and vendors had terrific sales, said ag expo board President Dusty Beals.

“We had such good weather every day but Sunday; I think that a lot of farmers stayed in their fields to get some work done before that storm hit,” Beals said.

The 2012 ag expo was held March 15-18 at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds. The list of exhibitors scheduled to display their services at the expo ranged from High Altitude Ranch Panels, to Cruzan Irrigation, to IFA Country Store. Examples of activities include the Bull and Heifer Showcase, Jason Patrick’s presentation “Getting More from a Young Horse,” Dreamland Industries’ “The Good, The Band & The Ugly of Growing Safflower” and Cowboy Church.

Even though visitors were down from last year, Beals said every bull and heifer in the bull barn sold — 18 animals in all.

“The bull consignors left happy,” he said.

It’s still too soon for the hard numbers, but based on the success of vendor sales, programs like the Ag Adventure and the display of the big four tractor out of Monticello, Utah, Beals said this year’s expo was a hit.

“We try to keep our ears open to what the public wants,” Beals said. “The Ag Adventure for the kids had a great turnout.”

He said hundreds of kids went through the educational stations run in part by the Colorado State University.

The presence and clinics of Aaron Ralston were another hit with horse enthusiasts.

Beals said he’d like to see the expo grow, and he thinks it will.

“We’ll grow as big as we can for the fairgrounds, and then maybe we’ll help the fairgrounds grow,” he said.

Beals said he’d like to see more buildings and expansion at the grounds. He added that they have a few ideas up their sleeve for next year’s expo to make it even better.



Reach Brandon Mathis at brandonm@cortezjournal.com.

Ag expo knows where the beef is

Four States Agricultural Exposition Beef Show results follow:
Livestock judge, Daniel Kiesling, University of Arizona livestock judging coach and agriculture instructor, placed beef showmen and their animals from around the Four Corners for awards and recognition at the Beef Show on Sunday.
Showmanship classes were divided by experience.
Champion Showman was Mercedes Shaw and Reserve Champion Showman was Danny Calderwood.
Beginners — first place Cassie Finley, second place Gracie Hadden.
Intermediates — first place Mercedes Shaw, second place Keely Harper, third place Levi Perry, fourth place Whitney Finley, fifth place Cole Yates, sixth place Sky Moreno.
Seniors — first place Danny Calderwood, second place Sadie Yates, third place Tyler Beebe, fourth place Michael Semler, fifth place Byron Porter, sixth place Jaycee Gallaher, seventh place Tristin Yates, eighth place Amaray Hadden.
Prospect Steers were divided by hip heights.
Class 1 — Blue, Cole Yates.
Class 2 — Blue, Sky Moreno; Red, Mercedes Shaw; White, Levi Perry; Yellow, Jaycee Gallaher.
Class 3 — Blue, Keely Harper; Red, Levi Perry; White, Tyler Beebe; Yellow, Jaycee Gallaher; Green, Amaray Hadden, Tristen Yates.
Class 4 — Blue, Mercedes Shaw; Red, Gracie Hadden; White, Amaray Hadden; Yellow, Michael Semler.
Grand Champion Prospect Steer — Sky Moreno; Reserve Champion Prospect Steer, Keely Harper.
In the Breeding Beef Show, heifers were all in the February to April birth dates.
Champion, Byron Porter; Reserve Champion, Michael Semler; third place, Gracie Hadden; fourth place, Danny Calderwood; fifth place, Whitney Finley; sixth place, Cassie Finley.
Bull Class — Champion, Byron Porter; Reserve Champion, Danny Calderwood; 3rd place, Sadie Yates.
Breeding Show Grand Champion — Byron Porter.

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