The Pershing County 4-H Building will be full of trailers, tack boxes, and the unmistakable buzz of competition March 27–29 when the March Madness Livestock Jackpot returns to Lovelock for its fourth year.
What started as an ambitious idea has quickly become one of the region’s largest youth livestock events. According to organizer KayCee Paredes, last year’s show drew more than 800 entries and roughly 200 exhibitors from six states—Nevada, California, Utah, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington—turning Lovelock into a hub for young stockmen and women and their families for an entire weekend.
The jackpot is a true all-species show, featuring cattle, swine, sheep, and goats, with both market and breeding divisions running over two full days. This year’s event will again feature two judges, giving exhibitors multiple looks and a deeper evaluation of their projects. Both judges are coming out of Texas, Conner Brew and Dakota David, names well known on the jackpot circuit and respected for their experience and consistency in the ring.
Paredes says the format is part of what keeps exhibitors coming back. With market and breeding shows both days, exhibitors get more value for their time and travel, while the two-judge setup gives competitors a chance to see how different evaluators view their animals. It also makes for a fast-paced, high-energy weekend that keeps the barns busy from morning until evening.
One of the weekend highlights is the showmanship showdown on Saturday night. The event has become a crowd favorite, not just for the competition, but for the prizes. This year’s awards include buckles, banners, electric scooters, speakers, chairs, blankets, and a wide range of custom items, many of them donated or handmade by local supporters.
Among those supporters is local artisan Christie Scilacci, who donates all of her time and craftsmanship to create tooled leather awards for the show. Organizers say contributions like hers are a reminder that the jackpot is very much a community effort. “Without local support, this event would not be possible,” she noted, pointing to the many businesses and individuals who step up each year to donate prizes, supplies, and time.
That community backing pays off in more ways than one. With hundreds of exhibitors and their families in town, the March Madness Livestock Jackpot brings a noticeable boost to local hotels, restaurants, gas stations, and shops. Trailers line the parking areas, restaurants see packed dining rooms, and Lovelock gets a weekend-long influx of visitors who might otherwise never make the trip.
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