Virginia Beef Expo coming, to be held in Rockingham

HARRISONBURG, Va. — The Virginia Beef Expo is coming to town April 13-16 with the promise of bringing members of the cattle industry from across the state and beyond.
The expo will be held at the Rockingham Fairgrounds here and offers cattle sales, an industry trade show, youth events and official meetings for the associations representing the cattle business.
A Youth Tractor Driving Contest will be the opening event on Thursday, April 13 beginning at 10 a.m.
Thursday afternoon will be occupied with the Virginia Cattle Industry Outlook from 1 to 4 p.m. when the trade show will open. The Virginia Cattleman’s Foundation Reception Live and Silent Auction is slated from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
The day wraps up with the Virginia Cattleman’s Association Annual Meeting and the Virginia Beef Council Annual Meeting and Dinner at 6 p.m.
Friday will feature an all-day trade show and the state youth cattle working contest that begins at 10 a.M. It is also sale day with four auctions taking place in the afternoon.
Here is the expo’s sale schedule:
• Angus Sale, noon, Dave Mullins, sale manager, 317-503-2798
• Hereford female and Hereford bull sale, 12:30 p.m., Rodney Phillips, manager, 804-387-9447
• Q4Q Bull Sale, VCA Female VQA Commercial Heifer Sales, 2 p.m., Rob Farmer, sale manager, 540-270-3886
• Simmental Sale, 2:30 p.m., Doug Parke, sale manager, 859-421-6100
The final activity of the day will be Junior Beef Roundup Weigh-in/Check-in from 6 to 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 15 will be devoted to youth activities with Youth Cattle Arrival starting at 7 a.m. and Weigh-in/Check-in continuing at 8 a.m.
The Youth Fitting Contest will begin at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Youth Build a Better Burger contest at noon. Youth Beef Showmanship is set for 1 p.m. Followed by the Steer Prospect Steer Show at 4:30 p.m.
The Youth Registered Heifer and B&O Bull Show at 8:30 a.m., on Sunday is the last event of the rexpo.
Information about Expo is available from Tom McCall, Expo president, 540-292-0192; Chad Joines, cattle sales, 540-557-7263; Katherine Carter, Junior Beef Roundup, carterke@vt.edu; and the Virginia Cattlemen’s Association Office, 540-992-1009.