SAN ANGELO, Texas — Entire families of cattle filled the far end of Housley Communications Cattle Barn at the San Angelo Fairgrounds ahead of this weekend's longhorn shows.
A disgruntled cow mooed her way through the bathing process at the venue's washing station alongside a handful of younger cattle. Meanwhile, a curious calf whose halter had snapped managed to stay in one general area while another nudged its mother to stand and feed it.
The latter calf does not yet have a name.
"We just call her Girlie Pop," her handler, Jaylin Krimmel, said.
Krimmel, a high school sophomore, hopes to be able to apply for scholarships through success at the stock show. She said she wants to study to become an ag teacher.
Krimmel brought a bull, a few cows and a calf to the cattle barn Friday morning. At the youth longhorn show, "Girlie Pop" and her mother will be shown together.
Ahead of the open show, Catherine Morris has her own family of cattle present. While the youth show is only open to competitors 18 years old or younger, there is no age limit to the open show.
Morris said she specifically breeds her cattle to be gentle, including a two-year-old bull she brought with her to San Angelo from Tuscola.
"My grandson is his best friend," she said. "And my grandson is 6. So if they can be around these cattle, then I'm okay with it."
The youth longhorn show and the second waves of both breeding sheep shows are the final scheduled events of the stock show. Both will take place Sunday.