You’ll hoot and holler at this spirited, hilarious and heartwarming, event at the Snake River Stampede. Every year calves are released in the arena, darting every direction on the youth scramble to catch, halter and lead the heifer across the finish line to be declared a winner. The calf scramble is held at the Saturday Matinee performance of the Snake River Stampede each year.
While entertaining, the calf scramble is more than just an event, it’s an investment in our youth and the future of Idaho Agriculture, the legacy of our heritage.
The winners are then required to return to the Snake River Stampede the following year to show their heifer at the Calf Scramble Livestock Show. They are also encouraged to show their heifer at local county fairs and other local breed shows.
The Calf Scramble event was established in 1999 and has since donated over $250,000 to encourage free enterprise, responsibility, and educational opportunity for the youth of the Treasure Valley. The Calf Scramble Committee believes this vital program enables young people to enter the field of agriculture, and we are pleased to support this important youth program in Idaho.
So, do you think you have the mooooooooves to catch a cow?
Each year we select about 25 youth to compete for 10+ $1000 vouchers that will allow you to purchase beef or dairy heifer for your 4-H or FFA project during the following school year.
To apply for consideration, you must be between the age of 14 and 16 at the start of the calendar year, you must be enrolled in high school for the school year beginning after the Rodeo, commit to the requirements of the Calf Scramble and 4-H or FFA programs, AND complete an application before the enrollment deadline.
Any previous Calf Scramble winner may not apply a second time. In the event that we have more than 30 eligible applications, we will hold a drawing to narrow the total to 25 contestants for the 2023 Calf Scramble events. You can download the application, general rules and arena rules on this page.
2023 Application Submission deadline: 6/30/2023
Applications and questions can be directed to: Robin Wylie Lindquist rwl1056@gmail.com
Would you like the opportunity to allow our local youth to:
The Calf Scramble is possible thanks to the generous support of many individuals and businesses like you. The Snake River Stampede Youth Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, offers sponsorship levels that range from $100 to $5,000 and are tax-deductible. Sponsorship benefits may include: