Bang! The trailer door slams shut and the shiny aluminum gooseneck trailer starts down the dusty driveway.

I'm Missy, a registered Angus heifer, on my way to the Cow Palace with my brother, Pete. The Cow Palace is a big building in San Francisco, California, and the show is the Grand National. That cattle show is one of the biggest in the western United States and cattle people bring their animals from all over the country to compete.

I am sure you have learned about ranches and cattle before, but I am a little different than your average cow. I have a fancy pedigree and a registration paper to prove it. My paper records have many generations of my family much like a family tree does for humans. Not only do I have a registration paper, my owner, Robbie, says that I am the most beautiful heifer on the ranch.

Robbie has a good eye and evaluates livestock for conformation as a project in the local 4-H club. He tells me I am perfect, but we shall see.

Robbie has worked hard for the last three months to get me ready for my first show. Learning to lead on a halter, daily rinsing of my hair, brushing and showmanship practice has built a lot of trust between us. Yea, I kicked the show stick a few times until I finally got used to Robbie poking me to get my feet set where he wanted them. But, he calls me a pet now, like that silly blue healer dog that follows him everywhere.

After seven hours in the trailer, I'm ready to get to the show. A sharp left turn and the engine on the truck begins to idle. I hear the footsteps coming, the trailer door swings wide open, and Robbie unties and pulls on my lead rope, wanting me to follow.

I look back and see Pete, the reigning Angus bull calf champion at the Palace. He gives me a nod for confidence and off I go.

I saw things on that walk I have never seen before, like sky scrapers and people of every size, shape and color. There are not only people, but other cattle of every size, shape, and color, too – red ones, black and white ones, plain white ones. As we headed to the stalls, I saw to my left a shorthorn that was red and white all over, simply the most colorful heifer I have ever seen in my life, on my right was pure white cattle called Charolais.

When Pete finally got in the stall next to me, I found out that this is a big all-breeds show. Yep, there's more variety than a box of chocolates. If an animal has a registration paper from their breed association, they are eligible to show at the Grand National.

Tied next to me was a Maine Anjou heifer. I commented on her beautiful black and white coat and introduced myself.

"I'm Missy," I said. "This is my first show."

She giggled, said her name was Rosy, and that she had been to quite a few shows before, but never the Cow Palace. She told me that there were over 50 different breeds of cattle and that 25 of those breeds were at this show. She said the Cow Palace show is so big that it will take a week for all the classes to be shown and the supreme grand champion selected.

Robbie unloaded all the tack – you know, the feed pans, brushes, leather show halters, and such – needed to prepare Pete and me for the show. He mentioned that we would be showing tomorrow.

I will enjoy the nice, soft bed and change of scenery for a few days while we wait for the whole show to finish. I am usually happy as long as Robbie feeds me twice a day. You know, cattle eat about three percent of their body weight in feed a day. For a heifer like me, that is about 15 pounds of food. I also need around 25 gallons of water to stay healthy. That is only about half of what a full grown cow or bull like Pete needs to drink in a day.

It has been a long day and tomorrow is show day. I am so excited. I will have trouble sleeping tonight. Perhaps if I just dream about that purple champion ribbon that Robbie seems to think I will win…