Every January, the National Bison Association (NBA) and Rocky Mountain Bison Association (RMBA) host this premier youth bison judging competition at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, CO. Held in conjunction with the Gold Trophy Show and Sale, this contest offers students a hands-on opportunity to evaluate elite bison livestock in a professional setting.
This free annual event is open to students aged 8 to 21 who meet academic eligibility requirements. Participants compete individually by judging four distinct classes of bison and providing oral reasons on a selected class. While all participants are recognized, those in the Collegiate and Senior divisions are eligible to compete for prestigious scholarships. We also provide special recognition for the top three registered teams and our top three Junior participants (ages 12 and under).
The 2026 contest will be held Friday, January 23, 2026 at 9:00 am. Please arrive early to get registered. Registration will be near the red bison squeeze chute in The Yards at the National Western Stock Show.
Learn More About Bison
RMBA has educational resources available to help you learn more about bison, including our NEW Bison Body Condition Score, created in partnership with the Center of Excellence for Bison Studies and South Dakota State University Extension.
Visit our Education page for this and more resources!
About Larry Higgins: A Legacy of Leadership and Mentorship
A Life on the High Plains Larry Higgins, along with his family, owned and operated a foundational farm and ranch located on the high plains of Eastern Colorado. Though his roots were deep in the soil of the West, his journey with the bison began in 2000. What started as a new ranching endeavor quickly transformed into a lifelong calling. Over the next two decades, Larry’s love for the animal and the bison community grew exponentially, leading him to become a familiar face and a trusted voice across the North American industry.
A Pillar of the Bison Community Larry was a tireless advocate for the industry, lending his expertise to nearly every major regional organization. He was a dedicated member of the National Bison Association (since 1999), the Kansas Buffalo Association (since 2001), and the Dakota Territory Buffalo Association (since 2010).
His leadership was most profoundly felt within the Rocky Mountain Bison Association (RMBA), which he joined in 2002. Larry stepped into the role of Vice President from 2009–2010, before serving a transformative five-year tenure as President from 2010–2015. Even after his presidency, he continued to guide the association as Past President and an active board member, providing a steady hand and a wealth of historical knowledge for many years.
Fostering the Next Generation Larry’s greatest passion was sharing his knowledge with others—especially the youth who would one day lead the industry. He led by example within his own family; in 2008, his son Josiah became the first person to join the NBA as a junior member. Larry recognized early on that for the bison industry to thrive, it needed to involve kids at a young age, teaching them the value of the animal and the hard work of ranching.
When the National Bison Association launched the Junior Judging Contest in 2008—the brainchild of Dr. Gerald Parsons—Larry was among the first to volunteer. He was instrumental in building the partnership between the NBA and the RMBA to run the competition during the National Western Stock Show in Denver, ensuring that students had a professional stage to showcase their skills.
An Enduring Tribute Following Larry’s passing in 2021, the bison community sought a way to honor his decades of service and his infectious passion for education. That same year, the event was officially renamed The Larry Higgins Bison Junior Judging Contest. This title serves as a living memorial to Larry’s positive impact on the youth of the bison community, ensuring that every student who enters the sale ring to judge is part of the legacy he helped build.