Welcome to the 39th Annual Cal Poly Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show hosted in Paso Robles, CA on February 15-18, 2024.
 
Please view our website for a complete list of rules and show schedules.
 
*LATE ENTRY FEES WILL BE ADDED ON FEBRUARY 1ST*
 
Cal Poly’s Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show
2024 Rules
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General Rules:
Any exhibitor found to be violating any of the stated rules may face consequences under management’s discretion, which may lead to the return of all premiums, awards and honors. Management has the final say and may interpret these rules as they see fit.
 
*Western Bonanza does not take any responsibility for the health or care of animals while on grounds. If an exhibitor needs a vet, they will be responsible for the cost and contacting them. Our recommended vet in the area: Dr. Lyon https://largeanimalpractice.com/contact/
Please notify the livestock office if you have contacted a vet and when they are expected on grounds so our staff can arrange easy accessibility to your animals and gate clearance.
 
*By exhibiting at the 2024 Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show, Western Bonanza has permission to use all photos taken during the show for promotional purposes.
 
*If vehicles and/or trailers are found in any areas that inhibit the flow of traffic or safety of others they will be removed at the owner's expense and by the discretion of the Western Bonanza Management.
 
NO PERSONAL GENERATORS OR PROPANE HEATERS WILL BE ALLOWED ON THE GROUNDS. WESTERN BONANZA PROVIDES POWER, PLEASE USE IT PROPERLY AND WITH INTENT.
    1. Ethical treatment of all animals and ethical conduct from the exhibitors, parents/guardians and all parties are expected at Cal Poly's Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show.
    2. All parents, guardians, exhibitors, and associated parties will be expected to treat management, staff, and students with respect at all times. If any parent/guardian, exhibitor, and/or associated party is noncompliant with management’s request, they will be asked to leave the grounds immediately and will forfeit any and all premium money and entry fees for their associated exhibitor.
    3. There will be NO refunds of entry money. No exceptions whatsoever.
    4. Western Bonanza Management reserves the right to change classes, show order, stalling and the show schedule at any time to improve the show.
    5. Exhibitors do not need to clean their pens before departure and there is no check out process to leave grounds. When an exhibitor is done showing they are free to load out as long as they do not cause a traffic hazard to the show.
    6. Due to limited space, Western Bonanza Management reserves the right to reassign excess stalls to another exhibitor if necessary. Entries in an exhibitor’s name are determined by the number physically on grounds, not the number of head entered on paper to acquire more space.
    7. Exhibitors must only exhibit their own animals unless prior arrangements have been made with show management.
        1. If an exhibitor has two animals in the same class, another 2024 Western Bonanza exhibitors need to show that animal; exhibitors must have an exhibitor wristband to enter the ring.
        2. Exhibitors must show animals entered under their name during showmanship.
        3. We only hold classes for showmanship. We DO NOT hold classes for market shows. Another exhibitor needs to show for an exhibitor with a ring conflict.
        4. Exhibitors are responsible for following the show schedule and listening to when their class is called, making their way to the ring accordingly.
    8.   Show A weight cards must be submitted by Friday at 9:00 PM and Show B weight cards must be submitted by Saturday at 12:00 PM.
      1. If an exhibitor fails to submit either weight card by this deadline a $25 fee will be assessed.
    9. Any animal exhibiting signs of infectious disease or any unsightly conditions will not be permitted to show at the Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show as determined by a veterinarian or upper show management.
        1. Western Bonanza Management team is not responsible or liable for any livestock hosted at the Paso Robles Event Center during the duration of the Junior Livestock Show.
    10. Only shavings or wood-pelleted bedding material is permitted for bedding; this applies to all species, no straw, hay, or sawdust may be used as bedding materials. Bedding will be available for purchase at the show in the livestock office.
    11. Management has the right to reduce premiums paid if there are not more than ten entries in the division. Divisions with less than ten entries can and will be combined to best serve the show.
    12. All exhibitors must wear and display an officially provided wristband while in the ring. Exhibitors without a wristband will not be permitted into the ring.
    13. Alcohol consumption on the grounds is prohibited for any exhibitor, regardless of age.
    14. All dogs on the fairgrounds must be on a leash, in hand, and manageable at all times. Management staff reserves the right to ask any owner to leash their dog or remove it from grounds if it is a danger to livestock, staff, or the public.
    15. Parking Management has the right to remove any vehicle that is not parked in a designated parking area or disrupts the flow of traffic.
      1. When loading and unloading trailers, there must also be a firelane.
    16. Per Fire Marshall Code, exhibitors are welcome to utilize tarps and heat lamps, however, the use of both tarps and heat lamps, or other sources of heat, will only be permitted if the top of the stall is uncovered and the heat lamp is at least 5 feet away from the tarp in all directions. Stalls found to be in violation will be asked to remove one or both items; if exhibitors or the responsible party are not present, staff reserves the right to correct the problem for the safety of others.
        1. It is restricted to have more than 40 consecutive feet of pop-up canopies or tarps.
          1. Under this code, canopies cannot be fully enclosed and the interior must be visible.
    17. No intact males, including cryptorchids, will be allowed on the grounds or in the show ring across all species, with the exception of hogs under 125 lbs.
    18.  All animals must be stalled in the location designated by management. Any discrepancies must be brought to the attention of the individual species chair. We will try to accommodate stall requests, however, due to space constraints, requests may not be met.
        1. To increase your chances of stall requests being met, please have all exhibitors write the same name, or phrase, in the stalling request field. For example, “Show Team 1” or “Breeder’s Name.” Listing out exhibitor names individually creates several problems when filling requests. Requests that are not submitted in this fashion will not be honored.
        2. If stall requests are not made on original entries, they will not be honored.
        3. We will not honor stalling requests in any other format including but not limited to: Facebook Messenger, email, or by phone.  
    19. The additions of hair or hair-like substances will not be permitted on any species. This includes goats, sheep, hogs, and cattle.
    20. Animals deemed uncontrollable by management will not be allowed to show and will be asked to leave the grounds, we will enforce a “three strikes you’re out” rule. If the animal is unmanageable three times while on grounds or in a trailer, the exhibitor will not be permitted to show that animal.
    21. Exhibitors and livestock must be entered into Show A in order to show in Show B. Exhibitors are required to notify a present ring clerk if they plan to scratch from Show A and/or Show B.
    22. Animals bought at The Established: West Coast Sale are permitted to enter a futurity class during Show A of respected species. Entries are due Friday, February 16th, with in an hour of the end of the sale.
 
 
Exhibitor Age and Showmanship Division Requirements:
Showmanship Fee - $15 Per Entry Per Show
 
  1. All Hog, Lamb, Goat, Steer, and Heifer exhibitors must be 5 to 21 years of age as of January 1, 2024.
      1. Alcohol consumption on the grounds is prohibited for any exhibitor, regardless of age. If an exhibitor with an exhibitor wristband is caught drinking on grounds their wristband will be pulled and they will no longer be eligible to show at the 2024 Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show.
  2. All exhibitors must wear and display an officially provided wristband while in the ring. Exhibitors without a wristband will not be permitted into the ring.
  3. Wether dam does and wether dam ewes are eligible to be shown in goat showmanship and sheep showmanship, respectfully.
  4. Exhibitors are responsible for confirming they are entered in the correct showmanship division by 8:00 PM on Friday, February 16, 2024. Age breaks are determined by an exhibitor’s age as of January 1, 2024. No exceptions.
  5. Exhibitors are required to notify a present ring clerk if they plan to scratch from showmanship. These scratches must be reported to the ring clerk by 7:00 AM for swine showmanship and 7:30 AM for lamb, goat, and steer showmanship before the start of the respected show the exhibitor plans to scratch from.
  6. There will be no “roll downs” in showmanship. Exhibitors will not be permitted to show in a different heat than they are assigned, unless the exhibitor is competing in another show ring at the 2024 Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show and the change has been cleared with management. If an exhibitor misses their showmanship class they will not be allowed to show in another heat.
  7. Showmanship divisions will be broken as follows: (age breaks may change depending on entries, please enter the appropriate division in which you fall as of January 1, 2024)
      1. Beginner - Ages 5-8
      2. Junior - Ages 9-12
      3. Intermediate - Ages 13-15
      4. Senior - Ages 16-21
 
 
Sheep Shows:
Entry Fee - $40 Per Head Per Show
 
  1. Minimum weight requirement for sheep is 35 lbs.
  2. Exhibitors will weigh their own animals and submit their weight cards via QR code on weight card by Friday, February 16th at 9:00 PM. A +/- 7 lb. weigh back will be enforced. Management reserves the right to do weigh backs on both Saturday and Sunday.
  3. Wether Dam Ewe Show: Official breeds will be called at the scale and management’s decisions are FINAL.
      1. Wether Dam Ewes are not subject to weight backs.
      2. All Wether Dam Ewes must be weighed in by 2:00 PM, Friday, February 16th.
  4. Ewes entered in the wether dam ewe show are not permitted to dual enter into the market lamb show.
  5. Sheep may be shown on a show halter in the market and wether dam ewe divisions but may not be used in showmanship divisions. Halters used must be corded or cabled halters in the colors of black or white.
  6. All sheep are required to have an ear tag or permanent legible tattoo, prior to weigh-in.
  7. Breeds will be self-classified by appearance.
  8. A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each division. Additionally, an Overall Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion will be selected for all shows.
  9. Market Sheep will be broken by breed then by weight. The following divisions will be offered:
      1. Division 1 - Haired Sheep Market Lambs
      2. Division 2 - Natural Market Lambs
      3. Division 3 - Southdown Market Lambs
      4. Division 4 - White Face/Speck Market Lambs
      5. Division 5 - Lightweight Black Face Market Lambs
      6. Division 6 - Heavyweight Black Face Market Lambs
  10. Wether Dam Ewes will be broken by breed, then by weight. There will be no haired wether dam ewe division unless more than 10 entries qualify. The following breed divisions will be offered.
      1. Division 1 - Haired Wether Dam
      2. Division 2 - Natural Wether Dam
      3. Division 3 - Southdown Wether Dam
      4. Division 4 - White Face/Speck Wether Dam
      5. Division 5 - Lightweight Black Face Wether Dam
      6. Division 6 - Heavyweight Black Face Wether Dam
*Management has the right to change divisions as they see fit*
Exhibitors must be entered in one of these breed classifications prior to arrival. If an exhibitor brings a sheep that is entered in the wrong classification, they need to correct the error on their weight card.
 
Goat Shows:
Entry Fee - $40 Per Head Per Show
 
  1. Minimum weight requirement for goats is 35 lbs.
  2. Exhibitors will weigh their own animals and submit their weight cards via QR code by Friday, February 16th at 9:00 PM. A +/- 5 lb. weigh back will be enforced. Management reserves the right to do weigh backs on both Saturday and Sunday.
  3. Does entered in the wether dam doe show are not permitted to dual enter into the market goat show.
  4. All goats are required to have an ear tag or permanent legible tattoo, prior to weigh-in.
  5. A Champion and Reserve Champion will be selected for each division. Additionally, an Overall Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion will be selected for all shows.
  6. All market goat classes will be broken by weight.
  7. All wether dam doe classes will be broken by weight.
  8. The following divisions will be offered for both the market goat and wether dam doe shows:
      1. Division 1
      2. Division 2
      3. Division 3
      4. Division 4
      5. Division 5
*Management has the right to change divisions as they see fit.*
Exhibitors must be entered in one of these breed classifications prior to arrival. If an exhibitor brings a sheep that is entered in the wrong classification, they need to correct the error on their weight card.
 
Hog Show:
Entry Fee - $40 Per Head Per Show
 
  1. The minimum weight requirement for hogs is 40 lbs. The maximum weight limit for hogs is 300 lbs.
  2. The Market Hog show is open to both barrows and gilts.
      1. Intact males, including cryptorchids, must be under 125 lbs.
  3. Exhibitors will weigh their own animals and submit their weight cards via QR code on weight card by Friday, February 16th at 9:00 PM. A +/- 15 lb. weigh back will be enforced. Management reserves the right to do weigh backs on both Saturday and Sunday.
  4. No snares or snare-like devices will be allowed.
  5. Per Fire Marshall code, exhibitors are welcomed to utilize tarps and heat lamps, however, the use of both tarps and heat lamps or other sources of heat, will only be permitted if the top of the stall is uncovered and the heat lamp is at least 5 feet from the tarp in all directions. Stalls found to be in violation will be asked to remove one or both items; if exhibitors or the responsible party are not present, staff reserves the right to correct the problem for the safety of others.
  6. Per Fire Marshall code, personal propane tanks are not permitted on the grounds.
  7. This is a non-papered show; breeds will be self-classified by appearance.
  8. Top 5 will be selected for each breed division. Additionally, an Overall Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion will be selected for Show A and Show B on SUNDAY.
  9. Market Swine will be broken by breed, then by weight. The following breed      divisions will be offered:
      1. Division 1 - Berkshire
      2. Division 2 - Duroc
      3. Division 3 - Hampshire
      4. Division 4 - Yorkshire
      5. Division 5 - Light AOB
      6. Division 6 - Dark AOB
      7. Division 7 - All Black
      8. Division 8 - Light Crossbred
      9. Division 9 - Lightweight Dark Crossbred
      10. Division 10 - Heavyweight Dark Crossbred
*Management has the right to change divisions as they see fit.
Exhibitors must be entered in one of these breed classifications prior to arrival. If an exhibitor brings a hog that is entered in the wrong classification, they need to correct the error on their weight card. Management has the right to reclassify hogs if classified as an incorrect breed.  
 
Steer and Market Heifer Show:
Entry Fee - $50 Per Head Per Show
 
  1. The Steer Show will be broken into three breed divisions:
      1. Black/Black Cross
      2. All Other Color
      3. British (Angus, Shorthorn, Hereford)
        1. If you would like to show in the British division, you must have papers. Papers need to be brought to the scale during weigh-ins.
  2. Official breeds will be called at the scale and management's decision is FINAL.
      1. All Market Steers and Market Heifers must weigh in at the official scale.
        1. Scales will be open from 5:00 PM to 9:00 pm.
  3. Market Heifers will NOT be broken by breed, only by weight.
  4. An Overall Division Champion will be selected for each Division (Prospect, Progress, Market, and Market Heifer); those Division Champions will then advance to the Supreme Drive. An Overall Supreme Champion and Reserve Supreme Champion will be selected at the conclusion of both Ring A and Ring B.
  5. Blocking chutes will be allowed in areas designated by Management ONLY. These areas will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis. Exhibitors may not enter grounds before gates are open to mark out space. Any exhibitor on grounds saving space will have their truck and trailer removed from the line and placed at the end of the load-in line.
  6. The use of artificial tail heads, switches, or unnatural substances such as twine in the fitting of cattle is prohibited. Exhibitors found to be using any unnatural substances in the fitting of their animals will be disqualified. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  7. No hay or bedding products will be permitted in the covered horse arenas as mandated by Paso Robles Event Center Management.
 
 
Breeding Heifer Show Entry Fee - $50 Per Head Per Show
 
  1. Exhibitors must check-in with original registration papers or be able to pull up information on a Breed Association website. Animals must be registered in the exhibitor's name. NO EXCEPTIONS. Heifers without registration papers will be moved to the Commercial division.
  2. All heifers must be checked in at the livestock office by 9PM on Friday, February 16th. NO EXCEPTIONS.
  3. If there are not more than 10 entries in a division, management has the right to remove that division in the best interest of the show.
  4. Breeding heifers must be shown in their respective division if one is offered, and cannot show in the All Other Breeds division.
  5. Heifer Divisions are as follows:
      1. Charlois
      2. Shorthorn
      3. Hereford
      4. Maine Anjou/Mainetainer
      5. Chi-X/Chi Maine
      6. AOB
      7. Angus
      8. Commerical
  6. Commercial Heifers will be shown by weight and must be weighed in by Friday, February 16th at 9:00 PM. *Commercial heifers will not be eligible to compete for Supreme Champion Female.
  7. Breeding Heifer Age Limits: must be born on or before June 30, 2023 and cannot be born before January 1, 2021.
  8. Bred and Owned Divisions will be offered in all breeds, except Commercial Heifers. Exhibitors in the Bred and Owned division must be the breeder and first owner, and the continuous owner of the animal entered. Breeder is defined as the recorded owner of the dam at the time of service. First owner is defined as the recorded owner of the dam at the time the calf is born.
  9. Appendix Shorthorn Females (green registration papers) will be shown in the All Other Breeds Division.