Campustown will once again trade traffic for show cattle as the second annual Campustown Showdown returns to Ames.
Welch Avenue will become a full-scale street arena for national livestock exhibitors, April 24-25.
Putting show cattle in the middle of Campustown still surprises people, organizers said. Produced by The Grand Drives and presented by Maxwell United, the event gathers market beef and breeding heifer competitors for a weekend blending agriculture, entertainment and community celebration.
Competition opens at 6 p.m., Friday, April 24, at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center with a showmanship contest. Exhibitors return Saturday morning for division judging before the top animals advance to the Grand Drive at 6:30 p.m. on Welch Avenue.
More than $7,500 in cash prizes will be awarded.
A street takeover with music, fashion and vendors in Ames
What begins in the show ring expands into a festival-style takeover of Campustown on Saturday night, starting at 6:30 p.m.
Visitors can expect live music, a western fashion show presented by Western Edge and vendor booths lining the district. The goal is to create an atmosphere that feels both educational and fun, especially for residents who encounter a cattle show for the first time.
“Our mission is to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities by creating an immersive experience that celebrates the cattle industry in a setting people don’t expect,” Christian Calliham, founder and executive director of Campustown Showdown, said in a news release.
He noted how Ames’ agricultural heritage makes it a natural home for the show.
The Showdown highlights both the city’s energy and its agricultural roots while drawing visitors to the district, Discover Ames, a supporting partner, said in a news release.
All events are free and open to the public. Full schedules and exhibitor details are available at campustownshowdown.com.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at rfaaborg@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Ames Tribune: Campustown Showdown’s return brings cattle, festival back to Ames
Reporting by Ronna Faaborg, Ames Tribune / Ames Tribune
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