Western Bonanza 2011

PASO ROBLES-- Cal Poly’s, Western Bonanza is the largest Junior livestock show in the Western United States.

“Western Bonanza started out 27 years ago as a Cal Poly Animal Science senior project,” said Lexi Leventini, Agricultural Business fourth year, and one of the manager’s this year for Bonanza.

Over the past 27 years it has grown to be a four species show, with about 500 exhibitors and over 2,000 head of livestock.

Bonanza occurs over “a three day window. They come in on a Friday and they leave on Sunday,” said Levintini.

This is Leventini’s fourth and final year working for Western Bonanza. “I started out when as an exhibitor when I was 9-years-old and now I am the general manager so I’ve come a long ways,” she said.

The students showing their livestock range from nine to 18 years old.

Kayla Welsh one of the students showing at Bonanza said that

she shows sheep and steer. “This is my second year showing at Western Bonanza,” she said.

Another shower, Cody Shelton, said this is her sixth year showing at Western Bonanza. “I show five different types of livestock. Goats, sheep, pigs, dairy cattle, and beef cattle,” said Shelton. She said that she brought six head of livestock to Bonanza this year.

Shelton said that goats are her favorite to show because they have a great personality, and are fun.

Cal Poly’s Bonanza team hires specialists from around the United States to come in and judge the shows each day.

Leventini said that it is a joy to watch all of the little kids. “I always wanted to be where I am now,” she said.

Leventini said that the look on all the kid’s faces while they are showing is amazing. “It makes all of our hard work worth it,” said Leventini.