Each year for the past eight years the Navajo County Fairgrounds in Holbrook has hosted the Arizona Livestock Camp. This year was the largest year yet, with nearly 600 livestock brought in by youth. According to organizer and Fair Board member Rusty DeSpain, “We had about 190 kids from all over, as far as Arizona and New Mexico, Colorado. We had clinicians, teachers from all over the United States come here and teach the latest trends in the livestock fitting industry and showing industry. That lasted until Thursday night and then we had another 230 animals (on Friday) so somewhere around 600 animals here for what we call the Route 66 Show.” Throughout the week, the kids prepare for competition that include four species, cattle, sheep, goats and hogs and participants vie for approximately $30,000 in prizes, both in cash and merchandise. According to DeSpain, the committee that puts this event together live in places such as Yuma, Colorado, Mesa, Kingman and choose the fairgrounds in Holbrook due to the exceptional facilities and with DeSpain on the fair board as well, it allows an event to come to town that also promotes local businesses such as gas stations, restaurants and hotels. “It’s a great opportunity for Holbrook to have this here.” While many of the families bring trailers, DeSpain estimates that as many as half of those in attendance stay in local hotels during the week. The kids generally camp at the fairgrounds and a dance is held during the week. The event is a great opportunity for kids to come together with a shared interest and to develop valuable skills. “They’re pretty unique kids. You figure these animals, being show animals, every night they have to rinse them, blow their hair, just to get them ready for the show for the following weekend. So, it’s not just something that their animals are out in their pen and they just go and load them and take them somewhere. It’s a full-time project, year around, as long as they have their animal.” The event wrapped up last weekend with the showmanship event followed by the market before they made the long journey home with new knowledge, new friendships and something to look forward to for next year.
