'Campustown Showdown' to bring cattle show to Welch Avenue in Ames

KCCI 8 - Des Moines News: April 16, 2025

AMES, Iowa —A cattle show is coming to the heart of Iowa State later this month.

The Campustown Showdown is scheduled for April 25-26 in Ames. It will include a cattle show on Welch Avenue.

According to a news release from The Grand Drives, the event is modeled after Aggieville Showdown, an event that has been held five years in a row at the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, Kansas.

The Campustown Showdown begins at 6 p.m. Friday, April 25 with a showmanship competition at the Hansen Ag Center on Mortensen Road. More competitions continue Saturday, April 26 and will conclude with a final event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday along Welch Avenue.

The Welch Avenue event includes live music, a fashion show and vendor booths. Country artist Jake Jacobson will perform.

You can find more information here.

Virtual Press Conference Announcement - Inaugural Campustown Showdown Coming to Ames, Iowa

 AMES, Iowa (January 29, 2025) – The Campustown Showdown, presented by MaxAg, a one-of-a-kind cattle show and community celebration, is set to debut in Ames, Iowa, on April 25-26, 2025. Modeled after the successful Aggieville Showdown in Manhattan, Kansas, this inaugural event will bring an exciting mix of agriculture, entertainment, and community spirit to the heart of Campustown. 

This unique cattle show starts at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center where exhibitors will compete to have the chance to show their cattle in the streets of the Campustown Business District. 

The first show of its kind, Aggieville Showdown, was developed in Manhattan, Kansas in 2021 to celebrate American beef producers while advancing exhibitors’ and the public’s knowledge about the livestock industry. 

“We are excited for the inaugural Campustown Showdown event in Ames, Iowa to unite exhibitors, students, businesses, and the public to celebrate agriculture in Campustown,” said Christian Calliham, Founder & Executive Director of Campustown Showdown. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities by hosting engaging livestock show events in entertainment districts, providing consumers with an immersive experience of the cattle industry’s producer-to-consumer journey.” 

The Aggieville Showdown has become a signature tradition in Manhattan, Kansas over the past five years. The staff are excited to expand the tradition to Ames, Iowa, highlighting the shared values of these vibrant communities. 

Exhibitors will compete on Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m. starting with the showmanship competition at the Hansen Ag Center. On Saturday, April 26 the competition resumes at 9:30 a.m. with market beef and breeding heifer divisions. The top competitors will advance to the Grand Drive on Welch Avenue in Campustown. 

The public is invited to both the Hansen Ag Center, and the Grand Drive event in Campustown on Welch Avenue to watch the competition and enjoy vendor booths. 

The Grand Drive will be at 6:30 p.m. on April 26, 2025 in Campustown on Welch Avenue, between Chamberlin and Hunt Street.

The evening will feature the following: 

● Crowning champions on Welch Avenue, with over $7,500 in cash prizes 

● A western fashion show 

● Live music 

● Interviews with the winning contestants 

● Vendors providing a unique shopping experience 

“Campustown has never hosted an event like this before,” said Kevin Bourke of Discover Ames. “It’s a chance to showcase our vibrant community and its rich agricultural heritage to a wide audience. We are excited to support the inaugural Campustown Showdown and welcome cattle exhibitors from across the midwest.” 

Mark your calendars and join us for the inaugural Campustown Showdown in Ames! Visit campustownshowdown.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram for event details and updates. 

Campustown Turns into Cow Town to Celebrate Agriculture with New Cattle Show on Welch Avenue

 IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

January 29, 2025 

AMES, Iowa (January 29, 2025) – The Campustown Showdown, presented by MaxAg, a one-of-a-kind cattle show and community celebration, is set to debut in Ames, Iowa, on April 25-26, 2025. Modeled after the successful Aggieville Showdown in Manhattan, Kansas, this inaugural event will bring an exciting mix of agriculture, entertainment, and community spirit to the heart of Campustown. 

This unique cattle show starts at the Hansen Agriculture Student Learning Center where exhibitors will compete to have the chance to show their cattle in the streets of the Campustown Business District. 

The first show of its kind, Aggieville Showdown, was developed in Manhattan, Kansas in 2021 to celebrate American beef producers while advancing exhibitors’ and the public’s knowledge about the livestock industry. 

“We are excited for the inaugural Campustown Showdown event in Ames, Iowa to unite exhibitors, students, businesses, and the public to celebrate agriculture in Campustown,” said Christian Calliham, Founder & Executive Director of Campustown Showdown. “Our mission is to bridge the gap between rural and urban communities by hosting engaging livestock show events in entertainment districts, providing consumers with an immersive experience of the cattle industry’s producer-to-consumer journey.” 

The Aggieville Showdown has become a signature tradition in Manhattan, Kansas over the past five years. The staff are excited to expand the tradition to Ames, Iowa, highlighting the shared values of these vibrant communities. 

Exhibitors will compete on Friday, April 25, at 6 p.m. starting with the showmanship competition at the Hansen Ag Center. On Saturday, April 26 the competition resumes at 9:30 a.m. with market beef and breeding heifer divisions. The top competitors will advance to the Grand Drive on Welch Avenue in Campustown. 

The public is invited to both the Hansen Ag Center, and the Grand Drive event in Campustown on Welch Avenue to watch the competition and enjoy vendor booths. 

The Grand Drive will be at 6:30 p.m. on April 26, 2025 in Campustown on Welch Avenue, between Chamberlin and Hunt Street. The evening will feature the following: 

● Crowning champions on Welch Avenue, with over $7,500 in cash prizes 

● A western fashion show 

● Live music 

● Interviews with the winning contestants 

● Vendors providing a unique shopping experience 

“Campustown has never hosted an event like this before,” said Kevin Bourke of Discover Ames. “It’s a chance to showcase our vibrant community and its rich agricultural heritage to a wide audience. We are excited to support the inaugural Campustown Showdown and welcome cattle exhibitors from across the midwest.” 

Mark your calendars and join us for the inaugural Campustown Showdown in Ames! Visit campustownshowdown.com or follow on Facebook and Instagram for event details and updates. 

### 

Media Contact 

Reagan Dolan 

Campustown Showdown 

(563) 08-0628 

reagand@thegranddrives.com 

About Campustown Showdown

The Campustown Showdown is a premier cattle show and community event inspired by the success of the Aggieville Showdown in Manhattan, Kansas. This inaugural event brings exhibitors, students, businesses, and community members together in the heart of Campustown to celebrate the importance of agriculture. 

Participants in cattle shows like the Campustown Showdown gain invaluable skills — confidence, leadership, and responsibility — alongside memories and friendships that last a lifetime. The event showcases the best of Ames’ community spirit while highlighting its agricultural heritage. 

For further details on the Campustown Showdown, sponsorship opportunities, or vendor information, please visit www.campustownshowdown.com or contact Christian Calliham, Founder & Executive Director, at (785) 443-1569 or christianc@thegranddrives.com.