Denver, Colorado (January 3, 2023)—Individuals 8 - 21 years of age are invited to compete in the Larry Higgins Bison Junior Judging Contest on Friday, January 20, 2023 in the Yards at the National Western Stock Show. This event is hosted by the National Bison Association and the Rocky Mountain Bison Association and held in conjunction with the Gold Trophy Show and Sale (GTSS) during the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado.

The GTSS has been the industry’s premier bison breeding stock auction at the National Western Stock Show for over 40 years. Participants will judge four classes of bison and provide oral reasons on one class, as selected by the judges. Everyone participants individually and is eligible to earn up to $1,500 in scholarships. Additional recognition will be provided for the top three registered teams and the top three junior participants (12 years of age or younger). There are no entry fees. This event is open to individuals 8-21 years old who are academically eligible. Registration in advance is encouraged.

Registration and full competition rules are available at: https://bit.ly/3ePi8gw .

The NBA’s Junior Judging program is based on criteria used in 4-H and FFA livestock judging contests.  The bison judging program is a brainchild of NBA member and Stratford, Okla., veterinarian and bison producer, Dr. Gerald Parsons, who proposed taking the contest to the national level after success with bison judging contests within the state of Oklahoma.

“The bison industry wants to attract young people to the business, and this judging contest is one way to encourage young people to learn about bison,” Parsons said.

The NBA Junior Judging competition has been held for over a decade at the National Western Stock Show and has educated nearly 1,000 young people about how to discern a healthy, quality American bison that would be a beneficial addition to a breeding program.

Learn more about the National Bison Association at www.bisoncentral.com.