Don’t miss Richmond Black & White Days – through Saturday – Cache Valley Daily

File photo

RICHMOND — Black and White Days in Richmond is the longest running Holstein cattle show west of the Mississippi River.  And it’s going on this week through Saturday, May 21^st.

Events continue Friday with the Western Spring National Cow Show at 9a.m.  A Hamburger stand, run by the Richmond City Youth Council will open from 11a.m. to 2p.m.  The council will also host a Hot Dogs and Hamburger Dinner at 6p.m.Friday just ahead of a Free Outdoor Movie with the showing of “Moana”.

The final day is Saturday with a Chuckwagon Breakfast from 7 to 10a.m., the popular Cow-a-Bunga Race will start at 730a.m. then it’s the Open Horse Show at 9a.m. New this year is the Stampede Bike Race offering 25 and 50-mile options.   The famous Highland Games go from 9a.m. to 4p.m.    The Black & White Days Parade is Saturday  at 5:00 pm. It begins at 600 South State Street, heads north, turns west at Main Street, then turns south at 100 West, ending at the Park Community Center.

Black and White Days has a rich history. The very first Holstein show in Richmond was held in 1912. Local dairymen drove their best Holsteins into the old LDS tithing yard (where Harris Dairyland is now located). Judges rode through the herds and picked out the best cattle.

A short break in 1913-14 was due to a national emergency caused by hoof-and-mouth disease when nearly ALL livestock shows and auctions were closed in the efforts to prevent the spread of the disease and to eradicate it from herds. By 1915, though, the disease had been stopped (through vaccination and the destruction of infected animals and herds) and the show resumed. Since then, the show has continued uninterrupted.

As the cattle show and sale continued to grow, other events were added to the celebration. Carnival rides, food vendors, footraces, and a parade were incorporated. The Saturday evening horse pull now caps the week-long event.

For more information: richmondutah.org