The 58th Beef Empire Days kicks off this weekend with events continuing through June 7. The annual event promotes and celebrates the area’s beef industry with many family friendly events, food and fun. It also educates people about the beef and cattle feeding industry.
Please visit beefempiredays.com for more information about events, including ticket information.
Schedule of Events
Friday, May 29
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.: Finney County Public Library Summer Reading Kickoff Event
Northeast Lawn and Nature Center
The library’s summer reading kickoff theme is Unearth the Story. The library will provide water to drink and a lunch will be provided for anyone in school under the age of 18 through a partnership with USD 457.
5 p.m.: Sunflower Livestock Showdown – Beef Show
Finney County Fairgrounds Livestock Pavilion
This is a youth 4-H livestock show where kids will show beef, swine, sheep and goats. There will be Showmanship, Breeding and Market classes. Friday’s show is beef only; The Swine show is Saturday morning, and the Sheep and Goat shows are Sunday morning.
7 p.m.: Specialty Risk Insurance Ranch Rodeo
Finney County Fairgrounds
This is a free to attend event where traditional working cowboys gather to compete and demonstrate skills used every day in cattle ranching operations. Ranch rodeo events typically use combinations of roping, horsemanship and groundwork skills to create a presentation of real-life ranch work.
Saturday, May 30
7:30 a.m.: Sunflower Livestock Swine Show
Finney County Fairgrounds Livestock Pavilion
This is a youth 4-H livestock show where kids will show beef, swine, sheep and goats. There will be Showmanship, Breeding and Market classes. Friday’s show is beef only; The Swine show is Saturday morning, and the Sheep and Goat shows are Sunday morning.
10 a.m.: CommonSpirit Beef Empire Days Parade
Main Street
More than 100 entries take part in this traditional Beef Empire Days kickoff. To celebrate the 250th birthday of America the theme is “USA – Built on Beef.”
11:30 a.m.: Commerce Bank Chuckwagons in the Park
Stevens Park
Enjoy an old fashioned BBQ meal and homemade ice cream for free with chuckwagons, family entertainment, food, music and family fun. Serving begins right after the parade.
4 p.m – 11 p.m.: Western State Bank Plaza Experience
Finney County Fairgrounds Plaza
With the purchase of a rodeo ticket, attendees to this event will have access to food trucks, cold beer, sweet treats, novelty foods and western lifestyle shopping.
6:45 p.m.: Bulls, Broncs & Rodeo. Driven by Legacy Auto – KRPA Rodeo
Finney County Fairgrounds Arena
This year, organizers have offfered an “added money purse” to draw the most talented professional rodeo cowboys and cowgirls from KPRA, as well as many of the surrounding state associations. The performance promises to be packed full of rough stock and a good helping of timed events. There will be a “mutton money run” for the kids, funny man Justin Rumford – 10 time PRCA Clown of the Year, and the Young Bull Riders on mini-bulls. Tickets are $5 at the gate, or FREE from any Beef Empire Days sponsor locations – Legacy Auto, Central Power Systems & Services, Blattners, Plymell Feed & Seed, Equity Bank, Hertz, Fullmer Cattle, Bomgaar’s, Crazy House, KanEquip, Mary Street IceHouse, Western State Bank, First Dental, Central Consolidated. Find the full list at beefempiredays.com.
Sunday, May 31
8 a.m.: Sunflower Livestock Showdown hosted by Beef Empire Days
Finney County Fairgrounds West Pavilion & Show Ring
This is a youth 4-H livestock show where kids will show beef, swine, sheep and goats. There will be Showmanship, Breeding and Market classes. Friday’s show is beef only; The Swine show is Saturday morning, and the Sheep and Goat shows are Sunday morning.
Noon: Maverik/Syracuse Commission Company/Robson Funeral Home Timed Events – Team Roping
Finney County Fairgrounds
Free to attend. Area feedyard employees and sponsors compete in team roping.
Tuesday, June 2
9 a.m.: Merck Animal Health Live Show
Finney County Fairgrounds
Free to attend. Live Show Judge Dr. Ryan Rathman begins judging the steers and heifers at 9 a.m.
Noon: Scoular Grain Cattleman’s Steak Cookout
Finney County Fairgrounds
Immediately following the Live Show, this event will give attendees a taste of beef grilled to perfection by Klaus Outdoor Wood Pellets ad Outdoor Living.
5:30 p.m.: Beef Empire Days Sponsors Reception
Moonlight Harvest
Private event. Ticket required.
7:30 p.m.: People’s Choice Auction
Moonlight Harvest
Ticket/Admission. The People’s Choice Auction includes the top 25 placing heifers or steers of the Live Show. The objective is to select the animal with the highest BED index schore. The top three head based on the BED index score will be paid.
Wednesday, June 3
5 p.m.: Finney County Farm Bureau/TFI Fostercare “Little Buckaroo Roundup”
Stevens Park
This free event features face painting, a tractor pull, giant bubble round up and more.
Thursday, June 4
10 a.m.: Beef Empire Days Cattle Working Contest Finale
Beef Belt LLC, 1350 E. Road 70, Scott City.
The event is open to all area processing crews and provides an opportunity to learn the newest trends and test the latest equipment.
6 p.m.: Street, Sizzle and Sound
Grant Street
Dinner is sold out. There will be a live performance by Krislyn Arthurs, up and coming country music superstar.
Friday, June 5
8 a.m.: 14th Annual Garden City Open Tennis Tournament
GCHS Tennis Courts
Presented by the Garden City Tennis Association. Double elimination, 8 game pro set with Ad scoring and 12 point tiebreaker at 7 games all. Finals rounds 2 out of 3 sets with super tiebreaker. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each division.
Noon: 6th Annual Sunflower Classic Benefit Truck Show
Finney County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building
All trucks welcome. There will be raffle prizes, door prizes and a silent auction, as well as food trucks and the popular jake brake contest. Free to attend. Truck registration is $100. Proceeds will go to a local family in need.
2 p.m.: Carcass Show at Tyson Foods
Tyson Processing Plant
The public is invited to view the carcasses of the steers and heifers entered into the Merck Live Show.
6 p.m.: Awards Banquet
The Refinery
Ticket/Admission. Includes social hour and catered meal. Awards will be presented for the Live and Carcass shows, Cattle Working Contest, Feedlot Special, People’s Choice Auction, Public Pick 5, and Ranch Rodeo. In addition, the Beef Empire Days Academic Scholarship recipients and winners from the Sunflower Youth Showdown will be recognized. And the Earl C. Brookover Award winner will be announced.
Saturday, June 6
8 a.m.: 14th Annual Garden City Open Tennis Tournament
GCHS Tennis Courts
8 a.m.: 6th Annual Sunflower Classic Benefit Truck Show
Finney County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building
All trucks welcome. There will be raffle prizes, door prizes and a silent auction, as well as food trucks and the popular jake brake contest. Free to attend. Truck registration is $100. Proceeds will go to a local family in need.
7 p.m.: Praise in the Park Christian Music Concert
Stevens Park
Free to attend. Join praise bands from local churches as they lift up their voices in a free concert. There will be a concession stand and children’s crafting table available. In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to the First Southern Baptist Church on North Third Street.
Sunday, June 7
8 a.m.: 14th Annual Garden City Open Tennis Tournament
GCHS Tennis Courts
8 a.m.: 6th Annual Sunflower Classic Benefit Truck Show
Finney County Fairgrounds Exhibition Building
All trucks welcome. There will be raffle prizes, door prizes and a silent auction, as well as food trucks and the popular jake brake contest. Free to attend. Truck registration is $100. Proceeds will go to a local family in need.
12:30 p.m.: Tailgate in the Park – Hamburger Feed
Stevens Park
Enjoy a free hamburger feed in advance of the Tailgate in the Park grilling competition.
4 p.m.: Tailgate in the Park – Judging
Stevens Park
4:15 p.m.: Beef Empire Days Cattle Crawl
Baron’s Steakhouse
Ticket required. The event showcases Beef Empire’s prime selections served at several of Garden City’s local establishments. Participants meet at 4:15 p.m. at Baron’s Steakhouse and Bar and then will board the bus to visit several locations before ending the evening with a meal back at Baron’s.
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