It’s Box Butte County Fair week.
I’ve been attending county fairs since 1965, when my older brother began showing beef cattle.
The summer of 1968 was my first opportunity to show livestock at the Lancaster County Fair in Lincoln. I had joined 4-H in January, and Dad purchased a Hereford steer that I named Duke.
The county fair was held on the Nebraska State Fairgrounds, and the beef show ring was in the middle of a huge arena that seated several hundred people.
August 15, 1968 was a day I had long awaited. Introducing nine-year-old Kevin Horn — Beef Showman!
However, when Duke and I entered the showring, his halter unfastened. I stood there frozen in a state of shock. Fortunately, Duke didn’t move. The beef judge calmly took the harness and put it back together and directed me to lead Duke around the ring. He gave me a red ribbon for my efforts, which was disappointing.
Grandpa Henry Horn had been watching from the stands and he met me afterwards and informed me I looked as white as a sheet. Grandpa was laughing, and I didn’t know how to respond. I knew he was right because I was scared to death. Fortunately, my later experiences in a livestock show ring would be more positive and filled with less drama.
Helping my good friend, Ron Kubalek, show his swine at the Saunders County Fair in Wahoo between 1972 and 1976 sticks out.
Being named the top swine showman at the Lancaster County Fair in 1976 certainly comes to mind.
Riding with pretty girls on the roller coaster at the 1976 Nebraska State Fair was also a highlight – as well as sneaking down the street to the Cather Pound dormitory on the University of Nebraska Campus and enjoying a cold beer with some of my former high school classmates who were now college men seems to have been retained in the forefront in my memory bank.
There are hundreds more.
Here’s hoping you make memories at this week’s Box Butte County Fair in Hemingford, Nebraska USA.