SPOKANE — It’s one of the longest-running youth livestock shows in the nation. The Junior Livestock Show of Spokane marks its 90th anniversary this year. It runs April 30 through May 3 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center.

More than 500 youth exhibitors are expected, showing more than 700 animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and hogs, from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and beyond.

The show began at the Old Union Stockyards, where it ran from 1936 to 1965 before moving to its current location. Prior to that, the Inland Empire Fat Stock Show ran from 1930 to 1935 at the stockyards.

A total of 77,634 market animals have been sold during the last nine decades, raising more than $21 million in sales.

Roughly 250 volunteers help each year, including board members, superintendents, 4-H leaders, FFA advisors, parents, youth exhibitors and community members who set up and tear down the grounds and execute the stock show and sale.

The show reaches more than 500 youth each year.

The annual event has long presented an opportunity for the region’s smaller communities to converge and celebrate agriculture together, executive director Lori Williams said.

“We’ve got some families in at five generations deep,” she said. “Definitely the people are what has allowed it to continue for so long, the deep passion they have for the organization and the desire to see this continue for the next generation of kids to experience.”

‘Extremely fond memories’

Bailey St. John hasn’t missed a show since 2001. That year, she showed sheep — right as it snowed that week in May.

She’d come home early from college each year to help out at the show, working in the hog barn, becoming a barn superintendent and now she’s on the board of directors.

“I wanted to give back to the show that always gave back to me,” she said.

Originally from Reardan, she now raises cattle, hay, wheat, barley, lentils and chickpeas in Rosalia with husband Zach. They met at the show, reconnected at the show and now both are board members.

She believes the show has lasted 90 years because of the dedication of the people who have grown up with it.

“We’ve all shown against each other, now our kids are showing against each other,” she said. “It’s something that people want to see survive. The memories made and the lessons learned are something we’ve all been able to cherish.”

“There’s not an older individual in the Reardan area, and Lincoln County, for that matter, that doesn’t have extremely fond memories of the Spokane Junior Livestock show as they were growing up,” said Rick Perleberg, Reardan FFA advisor.

Before social media, the show was “a huge gathering,” where folks would bring their family stock, he said.

“People take real pride at raising critters that sort high at that show,” he said, saying that it reaches the same degree as athletic or FFA competition — possibly bigger as a regional championship.

Market sales

The biggest need is a strong showing in market sales, to the point where “kids can have a good financial experience, as well as a personal experience,” Lori Williams said.

The sale is a culmination of up to a year’s worth of work for youth and their projects, said Jeff Stehr, livestock sale auctioneer for the past 30 years and a past president.

“They’ve raised them, they’ve trained them, they’ve fed them, they’ve weighed them, they’ve doctored them, they get them to the show, they’ve shown them now, and now here they are at the end,” he said. “Sale day, you can always feel a sigh of relief from everyone: ‘Here we are, this is the end, I hope we get some good money for these animals so I can put it towards a college fund or my next project.’”

Raising a livestock project teaches kids about committing to something bigger than themselves, said Perleberg, the FFA advisor.

“You’re representing yourself, your animal, your family, your chapter, your community,” he said. “I think those are all really, really big parts of what’s really important. Financial management, work ethic, all the things that go into having a quality project are all things that can be learned through livestock production and being at the show.”

The ambassadors

Junior show ambassadors serve two shows, with a total of four working each show.
Outbound show ambassadors this year are Amelia Ray of Reardan and Alyssa Williams of Ritzville, daughter to Lori Williams and her husband Andy, who is the longtime Lind-Ritzville FFA advisor.

Two new show ambassadors will be selected during opening ceremonies April 29. To be eligible, youth must be high school juniors, or the equivalent, and must have participated in the show for at least two years.

They also help promote the show throughout the year.

“My favorite part is seeing your hard work all week pay off,” Ray said. “And after the show, being able to hang out with friends and make new relationships.”

“It connects the general public to ag production, but also it allows the next generation of agriculturalists to get their feet in the water, get started in the industry and have a passion for it,” Alyssa Williams said.

Expanding opportunities

In recent years, the show has added leadership opportunities, new awards, scholarships, competitions and activities. This year, they’re adding a veterinary science contest.

“I don’t like to sit still or rest on my laurels,” Lori Williams said. “I like to refresh things every year, keep them coming back every year for more.”

About $20,000 in scholarships will be awarded in 2025.

Kids are at the show Tuesday through Saturday, so it’s important that they get a well-rounded experience, Lori Williams said.

“The kids might not have a livestock project, but they sure can be involved in our speaking contests or be part of our internship programs, to still have a connection,” she said.

She receives feedback from community members pleased with the caliber of judges who come in to work with the youth.

“They’re here for a reason as well,” Lori Williams said. “They want the best of the best at their colleges, and a lot of our kids are getting recruited to that next level.”

Many family-owned companies around the region, with long histories of supporting the show, hire graduating exhibitors, said John Dixon, advisor to the board and a Pomeroy, Wash., farmer,

“People who have participated are now out in the industry serving the Pacific Northwest, and bringing those kids back into their businesses that they’re managing, operating and owning,” he said.

As the number of farms decreases, the junior show has adapted to include students from more urban settings.

More than 1,000 inner city and surrounding area youth are introduced to agriculture each year through the Northwest Natural Resources Institute’s Farm Fair during the show.

“It still revolves around animals and, more importantly, the kids themselves,” Dixon said.

“The only way you’re going to make (agriculture) expand is if we continue to give these kids the opportunity to at least experience it,” Stehr said.

Future generations

St. John’s first time as an exhibitor, showing sheep, was during the 65th Junior Livestock Show.

She and husband Zach recently welcomed their son, Kase, 6 months.

“If I did the math right, he should participate in the 100th show,” St. John said. “It’s one of those ‘holy crap’ moments. When we say ‘tradition’ and ‘the roots run deep,’ we’re serious about it and we want it to be here for the next generation.”