Sierra Winter Classic — Steer and Heifer event begins today

Steers and heifers will be shown this weekend at the Porterville Fairgrounds during the 24th annual Sierra Winter Classic — Porterville Junior Fair Board’s annual beef exhibition.

The three-day event features three categories; a progress steer show for steers 900 pounds and over, a progress steer show for steers 899 pounds and under and a heifer show.

The shows, which are free and open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, will be judged by Johnnie Johnson of Nebraska and James Henderson of Woodlake.

Saturday’s activities begin at 9:30 a.m. with a classic steer show that will feature English purebreds and blacks. The divisions for this show include peewee (5-8), junior (9-12), intermediate (13-15) and senior (16-19).  On Sunday, the heifer show begins at 9 a.m. with the same divisions. The senior division is open for ages 16-21.

Diane Ennis with the Porterville Fair said that there will probably be 125 steers and approximately 65 heifer exhibits this year, and anyone is welcome to come out and watch the show.

The Sierra Winter Classic is a project of the Porterville Junior Fair Board, a group consisting of 14 FFA and 4-H members ages 14-19.

The show began in 1989 after a small group of cattle breeders, parents and 4-H leaders came together to provide an outlet for young beef exhibitors to showcase their projects before their final show of the year.

The Porterville Fair Grounds are located at 2700 W. Teapot Dome Ave.