At no time are Miles City's ties with the
ranching industry more visible than when it donates Main
Street for a Friday in early February to the display of
some of the best yearling breeding bulls in the region.
The 15th annual Cowtown Beef Breeders Show, Craft Expo
and Ag Trade Show was scheduled for Friday, Feb. 2, 2007,
but bitter-cold temperatures forecast for that day prompted
organizers to move it to the following Friday, Feb. 9.
The mid-winter date is chosen for practical reasons-it
comes before calving gets into full swing, so ranchers
have a little time to think about the bulls they will
need in a few months.
The
event enjoys reasonable weather most years, though this
is the second year it had to be delayed a week to dodge
sub-zero temperatures.
Few stock shows are held on a town's Main Street. But
in Miles City, a crew of FFA students and chamber of commerce
members erects 60-some pens, each of which can hold six
yearling bulls, in the heart of the central business district.
A wide variety of breeds is represented. The owners often
have extensive information and literature about the advantages
of their animals in particular and breeds in general. The
bull exhibitors also represent a wide geographical section
of eastern Montana. Entries even come from Wyoming and the
Dakotas.
On another block, the Ag Trade Show lets purveyors of
farm- and ranch-related wares show off their best products
in hopes of reminding ranchers that their operations need
other things besides bulls.
The indoor Craft Expo generally has several exhibitors
with a wide variety of products.
The breeders show and the trade show are open until 4
p.m. The Craft Expo goes on until 6 p.m. The event is organized
by the Miles City Area Chamber of Commerce, and reservations
for pens, trade show space and craft show booths can be
made by calling the chamber at (406) 234-2890.
