Aggieville Showdown drew cattle showmanship contestants from throughout the Midwest to Manhattan for its fifth year between April 4 and 5.
The competition began Friday with a showmanship competition at the Riley County Fairgrounds and continued Saturday morning with the top six competitors in both breeding heifer and market beef shows from the previous night.
Alexis Billeter, senior at University of Nebraska Kearney, won grand champion in Market Beef, while Claire Norris, senior at K-State, won grand champion in Breeding Heifers.
Saturday afternoon saw Aggieville filled with the Grand Drive at 6:30, including the showmanship winners announcements, a beer and distillery garden and a variety of vendors.
Madison Coulter, junior in graphic design, attended the entire event and said the cold weather resulted in a smaller turnout, especially at the fairgrounds.
“I mean, it was packed in Aggieville, but I think there may be more people at the fairgrounds if it wasn’t so cold, but it was really just parents and fitters and breeders,” Coulter said.
Christian Calliham, a Kansas State graduate and Aggieville Showdown’s executive director, founded the event in 2021. He said in a written statement the event’s goal is to bring agriculture to the heart of Manhattan.
“This fifth anniversary is a testament to the passion and dedication of everyone involved,” Calliham said. “Nowhere else can you find a show that merges these worlds quite like we do, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone with all who have made it possible.”
The event allows cattle showmen from around the country to compete.
“I think there are people from Ohio, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, maybe some other ones … because it was an open show,” Coulter said. “So that means [ages] eight to 25 can show from any locations.”
The cattle show’s popularity inspired a similar show modeled after it, which is set to debut April 25-26 in Ames, Iowa, called The Campustown Showdown.
“We are excited for the inaugural Campustown Showdown event in Ames, Iowa to unite exhibitors, students, businesses, and the public to celebrate agriculture in Campustown,” Calliham said.
Vendors at the Grand Drive said Manhattan’s turnout in Aggieville was sizable despite the cold weather.
Emma Miller, owner of Miller Mercantile in Emporia, Kansas, said this was her first year at the event as a vendor.
“I feel like there’s a good crowd, despite the cold weather, the winds died down, so that’s great,” Miller said. “We came to the fairgrounds this morning and set up at 8 a.m. and then we came over here about two to three o’clock and set up. Shopping didn’t start till 6:30 or something, but there was quite a big crowd at five o’clock ready to go.”
Bridget Goretska, owner of Showbox Boutique, said this was also the business’ first year participating in the event.
“Yes, there’s a lot of people,” Goretska said. “It’s been a great experience and we’ve had a good time. It’s fun, it’s different.”
