Wanted: Wild, Wild, Western Bonanza

Bonanza or Bust!

Get ready for Cal Poly’s 28^th Wild, Wild Western Bonanza Junior Livestock Show set for President's Day Weekend 2012- February 17-19! The management team has been gearing up for a rootin' tootin' time this Fall Quarter and is excited to welcome our committee members in January! As we round out 2011, we are thankful for our amazing sponsors, our wonderful exhibitors, and of course, our hard working students. Western Bonanza had one of its best years in 2011, where we "Hit the Jackpot"! What began as a senior project in 1985, primarily as a beef show, has evolved into a five-ring show that is “The Best in the West”. Cal Poly’s Western Bonanza is one of the most competitive jackpot shows in the Western United States. A grand total of 108 students helped run last year’s show. The show management team is comprised of 6 student managers, 23 student committee chairs, over 80 student committee members, and 3 advisors. We'd like to welcome Mrs. Megan Silcott to our team as a new advisor this year! Megan, a Western Bonanza Management Team alumni, is very excited to be a part of the show once again!

Our show was the largest it has been in four years in terms of livestock entries and  exhibitor numbers in 2011. Western Bonanza attracted 469 exhibitors and totaled 1,972 head of steers, heifers, lambs, hogs and meat goats entered in the A and B shows combined.

Western Bonanza added the Market Heifer Division to the show last year and changed the Meat Goat Show to a two-day show which helped to increase the goat numbers and the show quality. We had 65 barrows in the Barrow Derby and had large heifer numbers in our Bred and Owned Show, as well.

2011 was the second year each show ring was equipped with a camera so the show could be viewed “live” across the country. We increased our viewership last year and hope to increase the numbers once more this year! To keep up with the Livestream, please keep an eye on our Facebook page!

We set a record in 2011 for sponsorship dollars raised and increased our payouts to $45,000, as well. We appreciate the continued support of our donors that are truly the reason Western Bonanza is called  "The Best in the West”.

Overall, Cal Poly’s Western Bonanza 2011 was a great success thanks to the outstanding students, supporters and exhibitors involved. To keep up to date with Western Bonanza "Like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @westernbonanza!  

We hope to see you this year on President’s Day Weekend – February 17-19 2012!