At no time are Miles City's ties with the
ranching industry more visible than when it donates Main
Street for a Friday in early February to the display of
some of the best yearling breeding bulls in the region.
The annual Cowtown Beef Breeders Show, Craft Expo and
Ag Trade Show is always scheduled for the first Friday
in February. In 2011 it will be Friday, Feb. 4. The mid-winter
date is chosen for practical reasons - it comes before
calving gets into full swing, so ranchers have a little
time to think about the bulls they will need in a few
months.
The
event enjoys reasonable weather most years, though some
years it has had to be delayed a week to dodge sub-zero
temperatures.
Few stock shows are held on a town's Main Street. But
in Miles City, a crew of FFA students and chamber of commerce
members erects 60-some pens, each of which can hold six
yearling bulls, in the heart of the central business district.
A wide variety of breeds is represented. The owners often
have extensive information and literature about the advantages
of their animals in particular and breeds in general. The
bull exhibitors also represent a wide geographical section
of eastern Montana. Entries even come from Wyoming and the
Dakotas.
On another block, the Ag Trade Show lets purveyors of
farm- and ranch-related wares show off their best products
in hopes of reminding ranchers that their operations need
other things besides bulls.
The indoor Craft Expo generally has several exhibitors
with a wide variety of products.
The breeders show and the trade show are open until 4
p.m. The Craft Expo goes on until 6 p.m. The event is organized
by the Miles City Area Chamber of Commerce, and reservations
for pens, trade show space and craft show booths can be
made by calling the chamber at (406) 234-2890.
