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SubscribeThe Sale of Champions celebrates accomplished young exhibitors who have raised award-winning market animals and serves as the capstone event of the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE). This year’s Sale of Champions will take place at the Kentucky Exposition Center on Nov. 17 at 6:30 p.m. in East Hall.
A total of six animals will hit the auction block, as the winning Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion hogs, lambs and steers are sold. Last year’s auction sales totaled a record-breaking $110,000. Ten percent of sales are donated to charitable organizations. The remaining 90 percent of the proceeds are split, with 10 percent going to promote the expo and 80 percent being divided amongst the young exhibitors. More than $1.75 million has been raised through the auction to promote youth involvement in agribusiness and fund charitable endeavors.
The involvement of young people remains a central focus at NAILE — from its 10 youth judging contests to its agriculture curriculum for school groups to the 4-H/FFA members who show livestock at its event. The Sale of Champions is one more example of NAILE’s commitment to the youth who will serve as future leaders of the agriculture industry.
For more information, visit www.livestockexpo.org.
The North American Championship Rodeo comes to Freedom Hall at the Kentucky Exposition Center November 10-12 for the Great Lakes Circuit Rodeo finals.
Held during the North American International Livestock Expo, rodeo contestants vie for over $80,000 in prizes and the title of Regional Champion. Winners will go on to the RAM National Circuit Finals Rodeo in Kissimmee, Florida, for the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association.
During the North American Championship Rodeo, top cowboys and cowgirls from Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota. Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin will compete in a number of events, including:
- Bareback riding
- Bull riding
- Saddle bronc riding
- Steer wrestling
- Team roping
- Women’s barrel racing
- Rodeo clowns
The rodeo will feature special promotions on Friday and Saturday:
- Friday, November 11: Tough Enough to Wear Pink, fans and contestants are encouraged to wear pink and show their support for the fight against breast cancer, a portion of proceeds will be donated to Horses for Hope.
- Saturday, November 12: Kid’s Cowboy Hat Night, the first 500 children in the lobby after 6 p.m. will receive a free straw cowboy hat.
The show begins at 7:30 p.m. each evening. Admission ticket prices vary:
- Thursday, November 10 $25, adults $5, children (ages 2-12)
- Friday, November 11 $30, adults $10, children (ages 2-12)
- Saturday, November 12 $32, adults $10, children (ages 2-12)
Tickets are available at the Kentucky Exposition Center Ticket Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or purchase online at www.ticketmaster.com. Parking at the Kentucky Exposition Center is $8 per vehicle.
For more information, visit www.livestockexpo.org.
While the North American International Livestock Exposition is packed with competitions, sales and contests, visitors in the know schedule time for the Giant Country Store. The store is located in the North Wing of the Kentucky Exposition Center and open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 5-17. The exception is Nov. 11-12, which offers extended hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The Giant Country Store features more than 200,000 square feet of exhibit space and 200 vendors offering almost anything you can imagine associated with livestock gear and western wear. All the latest products related to showing livestock are available, including specialized vehicle trailers for transporting animals and livestock gear, such as bridles and saddles. Shoppers will also find clothing, belt buckles, cowboy hats, arts and crafts, musical instruments, handcrafted furniture and jewelry. “Cowgirl chic” boutiques with the latest trends in western-style clothing and accessories round out the shopping experience.
When it’s time to take a break from shopping, visitors head to the expansive food court located nearby. From pizza to pork chops – there are tempting treats to fit everyone’s taste buds.
Another popular stop in the North Wing is the Art of Wool showcase, featuring displays and demonstrations by crafters of how wool goes from sheep to shawl. Children can visit the Children’s Barnyard, where they have the opportunity to interact with rabbits, mini horses, lambs, newly-hatched ducklings and other baby animals.
For more information, visit www.livestockexpo.org.
The North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), the largest all-breed, purebred livestock expo in the world, returns to the Kentucky Exposition Center November 1-17. The event draws nearly 30,000 entries across 10 livestock divisions, all under one roof. Representing the 48 contiguous states, NAILE exhibitors show cattle, mules and donkeys, goats, swine, llamas and alpacas, sheep and horses, as they compete for nearly $750,000 in premiums and awards. The expo also attracts livestock breeders and agriculture professionals from around the world, contributing an estimated $8 million to the area’s economy.
NAILE strives to prepare the next generation for tomorrow’s breeding challenges, hosting the National Collegiate and 4-H/FFA Livestock Judging Contests. The exposition’s premier event, the Sale of Champions, benefits young exhibitors who often go on to pursue careers in agriculture. In 2015, the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion auction of steers, hogs and lambs brought in a record-breaking $110,000. Through the years, more than $1.75 million has been raised to promote youth involvement in agribusiness and fund charitable endeavors.
The expo kicks off with the North American Quarter Horse Show in Broadbent Arena November 1-9. Consistently ranked as a top five show by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA), this competition features events such as halter, reining, cutting and team penning. The North American Championship Rodeo is also held in conjunction with NAILE, November 10-12 in Freedom Hall. Top cowboys and cowgirls compete for $80,000 in prize money and the title of Regional Champion in events ranging from bull riding to steer wrestling and women’s barrel racing to team roping. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. each night and tickets range from $25-$32 for adults and $5-$10 for children, depending on the evening.
The Giant Country Store draws shoppers interested in browsing the latest in western wear, livestock gear, musical instruments, handcrafted furniture, art, jewelry and more. The Farm City Luncheon is also a NAILE tradition. Produced by Louisville’s Agribusiness Industry Network, the program includes the presentation of the “Agribusiness of the Year” award and “Wing Tip Rodeo.” Ticket order forms are available at www.agribusinesslouisville.com/farm-city-luncheon.html.
Prices for NAILE admission and parking are:
- Children (ages 2-12) $3
- Adults $6 Seniors (age 55 and older) $3
- Parking (per day) $8 Admission passes and parking passes valid throughout the expo can be purchased for $25 each.
For more information about NAILE, the North American Quarter Horse Show and the North American Championship Rodeo, visit www.livestockexpo.org.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is branching out in a special way to celebrate its 20th anniversary. In partnership with Brightside, the popular local attraction will sponsor the planting of twenty trees in a vacant lot in the Smoketown neighborhood. After the trees are planted this fall, the project will blossom into an entirely new park with walkways, benches, and more next spring.
On Wednesday, November 2, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., volunteers with the museum and Brightside will plant the trees at 813 S. Jackson Street. The lot is owned by the Louisville Metro Housing Authority and is across the street from the main entrance of Meyzeek Middle School.
“Because of our wood bat business, we have a great history with and appreciation for trees. We also know how much Louisville needs to revitalize its canopy. As we thought about ways to thank the community for its support over our twenty years, planting twenty trees and creating a new urban park seemed like the perfect way to combine a passion of ours with a local need,” said Anne Jewell, Vice President and Executive Director of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. “We’re thrilled that Brightside found a location in the Smoketown neighborhood that will benefit students and families. Brightside did a great job getting creative with our funding and recycling materials to build-out an entire park around these trees.”
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory has welcomed more than 4.5 million visitors since it opened in 1996. The attraction is owned by Hillerich & Bradsby Co., which operated a production plant in Smoketown at Jacob and Finzer Streets from 1901 to 1974. The two-acre property that housed the production plant was donated to the Community Foundation of Louisville in 2015 for development to enhance the 150-year-old neighborhood.
“Brightside is so thankful to work with Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory on this project,” Brightside Director Gina O’Brien said. “Their act of community service will result in new trees for a deserving neighborhood and a new park for students of Meyzeek and children of the neighborhood to use.”
For more information on Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, please visit https://www.sluggermuseum.com/
For more information on Brightside and their mission to make Louisville clean and green, please visit www.brightsideinc.org
Citing a suicide rate that is higher than the national average, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, the city’s Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods and several community partners announced a suicide prevention summit on Nov. 9-10 that aims to champion “Zero Suicide” as a community goal, while educating citizens and community leaders, and arming them with the tools and resources necessary to reach that goal.
“The number of suicides in our community is tragic and unacceptable,” Mayor Fischer said. “Our Office for Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods is working closely with the Louisville Department of Public Health and Wellness and other members of the Louisville Health Advisory Board to get at root causes and find solutions to avoid such senseless losses.”
The first day of the summit includes keynote conversations with suicide survivor Kevin Hines, and activist Becky Stoll. Hines will share his compelling story and talk how community transformation can truly be the difference between life and death (http://www.kevinhinesstory.com ). Stoll, part of the national Zero Suicide initiative (http://zerosuicide.sprc.org/), will engage attendees in a conversation about achieving this bold goal in Louisville.
The summit’s second day includes Mental Health First Aid Training for 250 adults to create an army of people able to intervene on behalf of adults and youth in our community. This nationally recognized eight-hour course helps those trained to identify, understand and respond to signs of addiction, mental illness and suicidal ideation.
Organizers hope to engage 250 community leaders in the discussion, including clinicians, educators, social service providers, non-profits, faith-based organizations and anyone concerned with the health and well-being of our residents.
“One suicide is too many. Embracing the goal of Zero Suicide is another visible step in continuing to make Louisville the most compassionate city,” said Kelley Gannon, COO of Seven Counties Services and co-chair of the Suicide Summit steering committee.
Organizers are seeking donations and sponsorships for the Summit so attendance can remain free. Various investment opportunities are available; please contact Kelley Gannon at (502) 589-8615 ext1305 or via email kgannon@sevencounties.org for sponsorship information.
The Bold Moves Against Suicide Summit will take place at Spalding University November 9 and 10. To register: Click Here
In preparation for the Brightside Community-Wide Planting Day on November 5, Brightside will be partnering with several local garden centers to host plant sales in support of Brightside programs and initiatives.
“Keeping our city clean and green is truly a community-wide effort,” Brightside Director Gina O’Brien said. “We are grateful to these local nurseries for their partnership and ask Louisville residents to support these local businesses so Louisville can add more green to their yards while supporting Brightside at the same time.”
Portions of sale proceeds will be donated to Brightside to support their clean and green initiatives. Participating nurseries and sale details are as follows:
- Plant Kingdom (4101 Westport Road): 20% of tree sales from October 26 through November 9
- St. Matthews Feed & Seed (225 Chenoweth Lane): 10% of all sales on October 29 & 30, November 5 & 6
- Tower View Farms & Nursery (12523 Taylorsville Road): 20% of all tree sales on October 29 & 30, November 5 & 6
- Ken Mulch (2708 Outer Loop): 10 % of all sales on October 29 and November 5
- Frank Otte Nursery and Garden Center (12902 Shelbyville Road): 20% of all plant and plant material sales on October 29 & 30, November 5 & 6
- Frank Otte Nursery and Garden Center (2930 Bardstown Road): 10% of all sales on October 29 & 30, November 5 & 6
- Idlewild Butterfly Farm (1100 Logan Street): 10% of all sales on October 29 and November 5
For more information on the Fall Plant Sale, please visit https://louisvilleky.gov/government/brightside/fall-plant-sale
To sign up as a volunteer for the Community-Wide Planting Day event in Parkland on November 5, please visit https://louisvilleky.wufoo.com/forms/brightside-volunteer-interest-form/