2015 North American International Livestock Exhibition

The week before Thanksgiving, we had the privilege to attend the North American International Livestock Exhibition (NAILE) in Louisville, KY.  The Miniature Hereford Breeders Association sponsors the Miniature Hereford show.  This was our first time to attend NAILE and also our first MHBA sanctioned show.  This trip has been over a year in the making for our family, and we are so glad that we were finally able to make it to a national show.  

Tuesday morning began bright and early and we pulled out of the driveway ahead of schedule at 5:45 a.m.

Load 'em up. Buckle up. Pedal down. Louisville bound. #4wileyfarm #NAILE15 #miniaturehereford

A photo posted by Dan Wiley (@4wileyfarm) on Nov 17, 2015 at 2:54am PST

Once we arrived at the show, we had bedding delivered and Walker decided that it made a nice chair.

Just chillin #NAILE15 #4wileyfarm

A photo posted by Dan Wiley (@4wileyfarm) on Nov 17, 2015 at 10:48am PST

We got everyone moved in and comfortable. 

We even let Anthony take a short nap.  That's O.K....he worked hard for that nap.

Each day the cows were washed...

dried...

and all around pampered.

There were 74 Miniature Herefords at the show from Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, New Hampshire, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas and Tennessee.

​We quickly learned that the competition was going to be fierce.  

Mitchell won first in his two year old bull class.

Rain was third in her class of intermediate senior heifers.

Annabelle placed second in her class of spring senior heifers.

Six placed second in her class of spring heifer calves...even though she threw a fit about wearing a show halter with a chain.

The show took 5 1/2 hours, and by the end everyone was ready for dinner and bed...

including the cows.

Thankfully, we were released a few hours early on Friday morning and started the five hour trip home.  By 3:30 that afternoon, we were home, the cows were unloaded, luggage unloaded, showered and relaxing on the couch.  We didn't move from the couch much that weekend and got some much needed rest before we had to go back to work.  All those mornings that started with a 4 were taking a toll on us.

We want to thank all of the people that put on the North American International Livestock Exhibition and those from MHBA that made this show possible.  We know that it is a thankless job, but it couldn't go on without the countless hours of planning and hard work.  

Showing at Louisville is an experience that we will never forget.  We had four days together as a family (plus Anthony) and made a lot of memories that will stay with us for forever.  

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