In the 1950s, the annual “Fat Cattle Show” at the Union Stock Yards on St. Elmo Avenue was well attended and highly competitive.
The accompanying photo, shot by Chattanooga News-Free Press photographer Bob Sherrill in March 1953, shows steers being prepared for judging at the event, which featured animals raised by boys and girls in area 4-H and Future Farmers of America clubs.
In the 1953 event, 110 young people interested in agriculture entered 163 “choice animals” in the competition, which was covered by Chattanooga’s two daily newspapers, The Chattanooga Times and Chattanooga News-Free Press.
The two-day events included a weigh-in of the animals Friday and judging followed by an auction Saturday. Winners were vying for about $1,000 in cash awards, according to a news report.