When 16-year-old Alli Stromberger of Iliff opens her Facebook app, she is reminded of a life-long dream that came true just one year ago.

Although joy and happiness fills Alli as she scrolls through the numerous pictures and videos of her animal winning Grand Champion in the hog division at the Junior Market Show last year; she’s also saddened.

“There’s been a ton of stock show memories that have come up on my feed from a year ago, and it really makes me sad knowing we won’t be able to create similar memories this year,” she said.

For more than 80 years, children under 18 have spent countless hours, blood, sweat and tears raising steer, lambs, goats and hogs in hopes they will be selected as the Grand Champion at the Junior Market Show in Denver.

But for the first time since the junior shows began in 1940, the show — along with the National Western Stock Show itself —  was cancelled as a result of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. 

Mikala Grady, a Texas native and former Reserve Grand Champion in the hog category, can only imagine how devastating the loss of the show is to those who were scheduled to participate.

“If I was in that position, I don’t even know … (it) would have been really, really hard for me to get (the show) turned out from under me last year. It’s heartbreaking,” said Mikala.

Mikala, now 19, is too old to participate in the Junior Stock Show. But her younger brother was scheduled to make the trip from Grandview, Texas — about 40 minutes south of Fort Worth — to Denver this month. 

“At the end of the day, this is just a part of life and you have to cut your losses and move on, but that’s way easier said than done,” Mikala said. “It would’ve been really tough for me for sure.”

Each year around 2,000 children from all over the United States between the ages of 9 and 18 flock to Denver in hopes they have raised a Grand Champion.

Following the show, 95 of the top animals are selected to be sold at the Junior Livestock Auction that traditionally brings in a total of over $1 million, said Morgan Unks, NWSS event director and scholarship manager. 

“The last few years our auction totaled a little over $1 million dollars and last January the Grand Champion Steer sold for $155,000,” Unks said. 

For each animal sold, the contestant responsible for raising and showing it receives 75% of the proceeds. An additional 10% goes toward the National Wester Scholarship Trust that helps around 100 students each year attend college. 

Although this year’s show was cancelled, Mikala Grady says participants still learned the valuable experience of raising and caring for an animal. 

“They’re in our care for a year and it’s an every day job,” she said.

“I can’t remember when I didn’t have an animal in the barn, or was even able to take a day off, unless we were at a show. The responsibility needed to care for those animals really helps anyone mature.”

Alli echoed Mikala’s thoughts, adding she’s gained invaluable leadership skills throughout her years of showing hogs. 

“I’ve gotten so many opportunities through our 4-H club by helping younger kids and other opportunities that will stick with me after I’m done showing,” Alli said. 

So despite the lack of a show this year, Alli says she and her showing friends are motivated more than ever before for next year’s show. 

“It’s literally the Super Bowl of livestock shows and it’s such a huge event, she said.

“And although the show isn’t happening this year, it just makes me so excited for what the future holds.”

Likewise, show and auction officials are eager for next year’s show and are already preparing for the annual event. 

“I’m really excited to see all of our planning come to fruition and see all the hard work, teamwork we put into the show,” said Clancy Anderson, the livestock coordinator for NWSS.

“We generally care about the industry and care about the agriculture and we’re all just super excited for next year.”