Cattle show lands sports grant from tourism council

The Clay County Tourism Council awarded a $4,000 sports grant to Cattle at the Cove after event organizers requested $10,000.

The competition is scheduled for the Clay County Fairgrounds on Jan. 27-28.

Previous sports grants awarded by the council have included the Nitro Rallycross, Black Creek Paddling Festival, Gobbler Grappler, Motosurf World Cup and Girls Lacrosse Showcase.

Council Chair Mike Cella asked Tourism Marketing Manager Connor Mathews about the sports connection to Cattle at the Cove.

“It’s a sports event,” Cella said. “I mean, do we make the cattle swim, or what do we do? What kind of a sport is that?”

“Our sports grant guidelines iron out a sports event as something that has a governing body,” Mathews responded, “so in Cattle at the Cove, the governing body actually is a cattleman’s association. “I could be completely wrong, but they grade and score cattle on weight and fat and size of the animal itself; how cute it is.”

Tourism Director Kimberly Morgan added that the event includes a showmanship competition component.

“That’s one of the big drives for youth leadership and competitiveness,” Morgan said, “very much like 4-H.”

“Sort of like the Westminster Kennel Show, except for cows,” Cella inquired.

“Exactly,” the two tourism officials responded.