Domo arigato …
Stock show visitors can say hello to “Good Samaritan” – a search-and-rescue robot – today from 3 to 9 p.m. on the third floor in the southeast corner of the Expo Hall in the National Western Complex.
Samaritan was designed and built by a 12-member senior design group of mechanical engineering students at Colorado State University. The robot has won national and international awards.
The robot will demonstrate how it maneuvers to find and identify humans, using its thermal camera that detects body heat and a microphone that helps it find and track voices.
Saving shavings
A nationwide shortage of wood shavings – used to soften and sop up stalls and animal pens – has not affected the stock show’s ability to turn down the sheets, so to speak, for its critter guests.
The shavings concessionaire said Friday that there will be enough for the show, although some metro-area shavings purveyors report being out of the bagged varieties.
A housing construction downturn means less lumber is being sawed; hence, fewer shavings are available. Several sawmills in the United States and Canada have closed.
After ensuring there are bags full for the show, the concessionaire said he has sent some to other areas – including as far as New Mexico – to help out with shortages.
TODAY’S SCHEDULE
8 a.m.: Collegiate Meats Judging Contest; Hunter Classes
9 a.m.: Chianina Pen Bull Show; Denver National Maine-Anjou & MaineTainer Junior Heifer Show; Simmental Pen Heifer Show
10 a.m.: Chianina Sale Cattle Evaluation
11 a.m.: Fellowship of Christian Cowboys Service
Noon: Denver National Open MaineTainer Female Show – followed by Sale Cattle Preview
1 p.m.: American Chianina Association Peak of Performance & Style Sale
2 p.m.: ProRodeo
2:30 p.m.: Shorthorn Junior Heifer Show – followed by Bull Show
3 p.m.: Charolais Sale
4 p.m.: Wild West Show
5 p.m.: Denver National Maine-Anjou Sale; Rocky Mountain Red Club Bull Futurity
6:30 p.m.: ProRodeo; Jumper Classes
