Top Notch Stock Farm of Albert Lea has entered five head of beef in the Southern division of the 36th annual North American International Livestock Exposition. The NAILE is recognized as the world’s largest purebred livestock show with more than 22,000 entries and nearly $700,000 in prizes and awards. Scheduled for Nov. 7-20, the event takes place at the Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky.

Purebred farms from nearly every state and Canada bring livestock to compete in one of 10 expo divisions: dairy cattle, dairy goats, Boer goats, beef cattle, quarter horses, draft horses, mules and donkeys, sheep, swine and llamas and alpacas.

More than 210,000 American and foreign visitors attend the hundreds of individual breed shows, sales and events. In addition to the recognition and prize money that comes with winning at the NAILE, the value of the champion breeding stock is significantly enhanced.

Breed association events are not the only NAILE feature. The expo is also home to numerous youth events that are an important part of the livestock industry’s traditions, including: Eastern National 4-H Horse Roundup; Youth, Junior College and Senior Collegiate Dairy Judging Contest; Dairy Quiz Bowl; National Collegiate Livestock Judging Contest; National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest; Junior College Livestock Judging Contest; and National 4-H Poultry & Egg Conference.

Additionally, youth exhibitors enter market animals, those targeted for meat production, in the Junior Steer Show, Junior Market Swine Show or Junior Wether Show. These youth shows are sponsored by Farm Credit Services of Mid-America and are nationally recognized for both the quality of competition and prestige of winning. Champions from these shows are sold at the Sale of Champions on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.