The Beaumont Convention and Visitors Bureau (BCVB) continues to bring meeting business to Beaumont. The BCVB works with meeting planners, tournament directors and partners to maintain safety protocols issued by both the state and local government to keep both attendees and citizens safe during this time.
Adapting to recent restrictions, Beaumont held its first week-long conference safely since the start of COVID when the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association (IJBBA) held their National Junior Brangus Show (NJBS) from July 12 – 18, 2020 at Ford Park. Beaumont hosted 366 head of cattle, 400 show attendees with 153 junior handlers registered and the 2020 IJBBA Show Queen.
Young ranch guys and gals from across the nation came to Beaumont in their starched shirts and gleaming belt buckles to present their washed and groomed livestock in the show ring. Throughout the week of the show, the audience enjoyed seeing the different sizes of heifers and bulls being controlled by the smallest and youngest handlers while their livestock towered over them, whereas the more experienced and older juniors demonstrated how to competently show their cattle to the judges.
“I am so delighted that the IJBBA was able to hold their National Junior Brangus Show in Beaumont, Texas for the first time,” stated Rebecca Woodland, Convention Sales Manager. “After three years of hard work, COVID and extreme heat, the show was a success! With everything going on in the world, we are glad that we were able to provide, with our partners, a safe space to host their event.”
More than just a cattle show, the IJBBA’s National Show is a family event where the youth learn life skills such as public speaking and speech writing, salesmanship, photography, advertisement and video marketing, how to work collaboratively together as a team, expand their knowledge of the breed and develop other beef industry career talents and pursue their education goals. All of this in addition to learning how to breed, raise and exhibit their Brangus cattle. Lifelong friendships, mentorships and connections are made at this show. There are families who have been participating in this event for multiple generations.
With youth participants ranging from 7 years to 21 years of age plus entire ranch families and beef industry vendors -- from across the nation, the IJBBA visitors brought an estimated economic impact (EEI)* of $675,000 which helped stimulate the local economy. This livestock show is like an annual agriculture family reunion.
“We are so excited we got the chance to work with the International Junior Brangus Breeders Association,” said Director of Sales, Freddie Willard. “This is a new market for us, and hopefully leads the way for more livestock shows and opportunities like it, in the future.”
