MEDIA RELEASE :
For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2010
Contact Person:
Amy Smolik
605.373.2054
focus of Sioux Empire Farm Show today
The bulk of the Sioux Empire Farm Show ’s 30,000 visitors will start arriving in Sioux Falls today as two of the seven purebred cattle shows and more than 500 commercial exhibits take place as part of the 57h Annual Sioux Empire Farm Show, sponsored by the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce.
More than 500 commercial exhibits focusing on everything from combines to GPS systems open today at the north end of the Expo Building on the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds, the Arena and the Convention Center. The commercial exhibits will be open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. A ribbon cutting will be held at 4:30 p.m. to open the exhibitor portion of the show. It will be held in the main foyer of the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
The purebred cattle shows and sales also begin today at the Expo Building with the Angus show at 8:30 a.m. and sale at 1 p.m.; the Simmental also show at 8:30 a.m. and the sale is at 11:30 a.m. Both breeds qualified to have the champion bull and female represent their breeds on Supreme Row and vie for the $12,000 Supreme Row purse, sponsored by the Tri-State Neighbor, Wells Fargo Bank (South Dakota) N.A. and Campbell Supply Co. A champion bull and female over all breeds will be named on Friday, Jan. 29, and the buyers and consignors of the animals will split the purse.
The 57th Annual Sioux Empire Farm Show began Tuesday, Jan. 27, and runs through Saturday, Jan. 26. Last night’s livestock shows were centered on youth as the 4-H and FFA groups participated in the invitational calf show. The Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the annual Sioux Empire Farm Show, which is the livestock portion of the show. Since 1998 the Chamber has partnered with Midwest Shows of Austin, Minn., to bring quality commercial exhibits to the area for the Sioux Falls Farm Show. Both shows are dubbed as “Sioux Falls’ Salute to Agriculture”.
An estimated 30,000 people are expected to come through Sioux Falls for the farm show, bringing more than $4.6 million into the city. For more information contact the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce office at 605.336.1620 or the Farm Show office at the Expo Building at 605.367.7161.
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Coming Up Thursday: Purebred livestock shows continue, with the Hereford, Red Angus, Limousin and Charolais breed shows beginning Thursday morning at 8 a.m. in the Expo Building; sales will begin at 11:30 a.m. All breeds will compete for the coveted $12,000 Supreme Row purse that will be awarded Friday evening at the Mayor’s Round-up and Sale of Champions. The Market Lamb and Feeder Heifer shows both begin at 6 p.m. Commercial exhibits are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Arena, Convention Center and the north end of the Expo Building.
Coming Up Friday: Commercial exhibits are open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in the Arena, Convention Center and the north end of the Expo Building. This is the last day for commercial exhibits.
The culmination of the purebred cattle shows and sales will take place as the Grand Champion Bull and Female over all breeds will be decided. Judging for the seven cattle breeds (Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Limousin, Maine Anjou, Red Angus and Simmental) will take place at 10:30 a.m. The winners will split the $12,000 Supreme Row purse, sponsored by the Tri-State Neighbor , Wells Fargo Bank (South Dakota) N.A. and Campbell Supply Co., and KELO TV’s Jon Wilson will announce the winners at the Mayor’s Round-up and Sale of Champions Friday evening.
Mayor Dave Munson is again lending his name to the annual Sale of Champions. He will help emcee Jim Woster and auctioneers Pete Atkins and Joel Westra get the bidding started with the Grand Champion Market Steer. Last year the Sioux Falls area business community raised more than $41,000 in premiums paid to the market livestock producers. The Sale of Champions will be held at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel Exhibit Hall, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person and are available at the Chamber office or at the Sioux Empire Farm Show office. Call Sara Weber at (605) 373-2006 to order tickets.
Coming Up Saturday: The last day of the Sioux Empire Farm Show features both the College Livestock Judging Contest and the Junior Livestock Judging Contest starting at 6:30 a.m. The Youth and Open Rabbit Show will also be held in the morning. Saturday also features the Breeding Beef Heifer Show beginning at 12:30 p.m. The Sioux Empire Farm Show closes out with a Pony and Draft Horse Pull, which begins at 6 p.m.
As the leading Sioux Falls area business advocate, the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce represents its members by working to advance and promote the economic health and quality of life of the region. For more information about the Chamber and its programs, call 605.336.1620, email sfacc@siouxfalls.com or look online at www.siouxfalls.com.
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