Every January, the National Bison Association (NBA) and Rocky Mountain Bison Association (RMBA) host the premier youth bison judging competition at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, Colorado. Held in conjunction with the renowned Gold Trophy Show and Sale, this contest gives students a hands-on opportunity to evaluate elite bison in a professional setting.
Eligibility & Divisions
This free annual event is open to students ages 8 to 21 who meet academic eligibility requirements. All contestants compete individually, with division awards and special recognition for:
-
Collegiate Division (Freshman - senior in college): Special awards and scholarships for top three individual placings.
-
Senior Division (Grades (7th -12th): Special awards and scholarships for top three individual placings.
-
Junior Division (Grades 3rd - 6th): Special awards for top three individual placings.
-
Team Awards: Special awards for the top three registered teams.
2027 Date & Location
-
Date: Friday, January 22, 2027
-
Start Time: 9:00 AM sharp (Please arrive early for check-in)
-
Meeting Location: The red bison squeeze chute in The Yards at the National Western Stock Show, where contestants will receive scorecards and final competition instructions.
Contest Format & Schedule
-
Judging (Four Classes): Contestants evaluate four distinct classes of bison, with 20 minutes allocated per class. Class specifics are announced at the start of the competition. The judging will take place outside, please dress appropriately for the weather.
-
Oral Reasons (One Class): After evaluating pen classes in The Yards, contestants move inside to present oral reasons individually before a panel of judges.
-
Awards: Results and awards are presented immediately following score tabulation, typically between 11:30 AM and 12:00 PM.
Pre-Registration Perks
To help ensure an on-time 9:00 AM start, all participants and teams are asked to pre-register online. As an added bonus, every pre-registered team will receive the following at the start of the competition.
-
A complimentary copy of the NBA’s Bison Producer’s Handbook
-
The Buff or Bluff educational card game
Questions?
For additional information, contact John Graves at john.graves.10@gmail.com.
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.