Every summer residents of Douglas County look forward to supporting local youth and their achievements at the Junior Livestock Sale during the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo. But did you know that the first opportunity for many Colorado 4-H and FFA members participating in livestock projects to publicly show the animals they are raising also takes place in Douglas County in June?
Now in its 46th year, the Douglas County 4-H Junior Livestock Show – known by most as June Show – took place June 4 and 5 at the Douglas County Fairgrounds. The community event has become a statewide tradition where youth from Douglas County and across Colorado look forward to exhibiting their livestock for the first time each year and polishing their skills before participating in their local County Fairs.
June Show is planned and led by the members of the Douglas County 4-H Youth Council and in 2021 they took on the challenge of adding a new animal department to the show. For the first time, swine joined beef, goats and sheep in the exhibition ring.
At the recent June Show, 92 young men and women took advantage of this early opportunity to present their livestock at a public event – showing more than 240 animals in all! This allowed them to them learn how their animals may react in an unfamiliar setting, build connections with their animals, and increase their poise and confidence before the summer fair season.
Many Douglas County exhibitors will go on to present their animals and earn scholarship funds at the Junior Livestock Sale during the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo in August.
The 4-H Youth Council organizes and leads activities and events for the Douglas County 4-H Program within their own clubs and communities, and county-wide as a group. The June Show is their largest fundraiser each year and they use the proceeds raised from entry fees to provide 4-H members with scholarships for conferences and other educational opportunities.
Learn more about Douglas County 4-H and how you can see some of these youth and animals in action at the Douglas County Fair and Rodeo.