GROOTFONTEIN SHOW CONTINUES WITHOUT LIVESTOCK EVENTS NBC Online Sun, 09/27/2026 - 14:39

Hoba’s 60-tonne iron mass, missing crater and disputed discovery story constrain a rare atmospheric descent that no surviving witness saw.

Grootfontein Show continues as livestock returns to farms Staff Reporter THE Grootfontein Agricultural and Industrial Show will continue until Friday, 25 September, despite livestock exhibitors being required to return cattle and small stock to their farms of origin  instagram.com

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Scientists suggested two scenarios at first: a really unusual entry, or somebody moved it.

Staff Reporter THE Grootfontein Agricultural and Industrial Show will continue until Friday, 25 September, despite livestock exhibitors being required to return cattle and small stock to their farms of origin following the detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Namibia. The annual show officially got underway with its traditional parade, with this year’s pirate theme bringing colourful floats, costumes and festivities to the streets of Grootfontein. The show, which dates back to 1911, has been part of the town’s agricultural tradition for 115 years. --- Photos: Grootfontein Show Society --- Following the confirmed FMD outbreak, veterinary authorities instructed livestock exhibitors to return their animals to their farms of origin, with permits being issued to facilitate the movement. The Grootfontein Show Society said the remainder of the show would continue until Friday, while horse shows would also proceed. “Although all the cattle and small stock will have to go back to their farms of origin with immediate effect, the rest of the Grootfontein Show will continue until Friday 25 September,” the society said. Janine Louw, organiser of the small-stock section, said the development was financially difficult for breeders who had prepared for the show and planned activities such as auctions. She said breeders had incurred costs for feed, veterinary services and other preparations, while the early departure was also disappointing for those who had looked forward to participating. Louw said veterinary officials arrived at the showgrounds during the day and informed exhibitors that the livestock had to leave the premises and return to their farms of origin. She said exhibitors would still receive prizes where applicable before returning home. Kaspar Günzel, chairperson of the cattle committee, said the show had started positively, with judging completed and a good atmosphere among exhibitors and visitors. He said the news of the FMD outbreak came during the official opening, after which veterinary officials informed organisers that livestock-related activities had to be placed on hold. Günzel said exhibitors would return to their farms the following morning after permits were issued, rather than being required to leave immediately. He said the decision was difficult for breeders who had looked forward to completing the show, but welcomed the veterinary measures and urged everyone to follow the protocols in place. “We take it positively. They are doing their work and I think that is the most important thing that needs to happen now,” Günzel said. He said Grootfontein’s veterinary officials had assisted exhibitors by cancelling permits that had been issued for destinations such as Windhoek and issuing new permits for farms of origin. The Grootfontein Show Society encouraged the public to continue supporting the show, saying considerable effort had gone into organising the event. Meanwhile, the Windhoek Show will proceed as scheduled from 29 September to 3 October 2026 at the Windhoek Showgrounds. As a precaution following the FMD outbreak, the livestock section will not participate in this year’s Windhoek Show. All other activities, including trade exhibitions, the Just Fun Amusement Park, fireworks and public entertainment, will continue as planned. Ticket sales remain open, with tickets already purchased remaining valid. The public has been encouraged to rely on updates published through the official Windhoek Agricultural and Livestock Show pages. The post Grootfontein Show continues as livestock returns to farms appeared first on Informanté.

Hoba meteorite, the largest intact meteorite, weighing about 60 tons, that has been found on Earth. It was discovered in 1920 on a farm called Hoba West, located 19 km (12 miles) west of Grootfontein ...

One of Namibia's biggest agricultural platforms, the Grootfontein Show, has continued without its traditional livestock exhibitions and auctions following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease. The show officially opened on 23 September, with judging already underway the same day restrictions measures were introduced. About 100 cattle were at the showgrounds when the veterinary restrictions came into effect, forcing the animals, together with sheep and goats, to be safely returned to their respective farms. The development brought livestock judging and auctions to an abrupt halt, significantly changing this year's programme. "Obviously, that had an immediate impact on the show specifically, in the way that all the animals that were being shown, the cattle and the sheep and the goats, had to be removed immediately. So I think the initial reaction was somewhat a shock reaction, but I think since the last 24 or 48 hours, everything has calmed down. I think the Grootfontein community, which is a strongly agricultural-based community, was all aware of the imminent potential for something like this to happen. And I think what is giving us some assuredness is the fact that Namibia is one of the few African countries that are really, I think, equipped with the correct infrastructure and contingency protocols to handle something like this." He says the Grootfontein veterinary authority acted promptly and professionally by providing a legal and controlled way for the animals to be safely removed from the showgrounds and returned to the farms. But the cancellation of the livestock activities has also affected farmers who had prepared for the event, including those who were due to participate in a small-stock auction. "All the people that the farmers that wanted to attend the judging could not. They came to the show, but they could not see the cattle or the small stock on the show again, and they also had a small stock auction scheduled for today, and that had also to be cancelled. And for some farmers, that auction that is cancelled is quite a big loss of income, because they put in a lot of effort to have this show auction, and it's the first in a long time that they tried to have a small stock auction in Grootfontein," explained show organiser Kaspar Gunzel.  Despite the absence of livestock, the Grootfontein Show continues with its other agricultural exhibitions, trade displays and activities, as the agricultural community navigates the impact of the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak.

Farm Rietfontein Rietfontein Farm is situated 40 kilometres south of Grootfontein in Otjozondjupa Region. Location: 40km South of Grootfontein, Otjozondjupa RegionSize: 1,616 haProduce: White and yellow maize, hay bales, vegetables, maize meal, mahangu flour, milk and eggs00| RIETFONTEINPrivate Bag 2012GrootfonteinTel:

El meteorito Hoba, también conocido como Hoba West, es el mayor fragmento de hierro natural jamás encontrado en la superficie terrestre. Con un peso estimado de 60 toneladas, este coloso extraterrestre yace en una granja cerca de Grootfontein, Namibia, donde impactó hace aproximadamente 80.000 años. Su composición es principalmente de hierro (84%) y níquel (16%), con trazas de cobalto y otros elementos, lo que lo clasifica como un meteorito metálico del tipo ataxita, raro y altamente valioso para la ciencia. Características únicas del HobaLo que hace excepcional al Hoba no es solo su tamaño, sino también su forma plana y rectangular. Mide aproximadamente 2,7 metros de largo, 2,7 metros de ancho y 0,9 metros de grosor, con una superficie superior casi plana. Esta morfología sugiere que al ingresar a la atmósfera terrestre, el meteorito ya se había fragmentado y probablemente giraba lentamente, lo que redujo su velocidad de impacto. Como resultado, no formó un cráter de impacto visible; en lugar de ello, se incrustó en el suelo, quedando parcialmente expuesto. Composición y origen cósmicoLos análisis isotópicos indican que el Hoba se originó en el cinturón de asteroides entre Marte y Júpiter, donde colisiones entre cuerpos rocosos liberaron fragmentos metálicos que eventualmente cruzaron la órbita terrestre. Su estructura cristalina, con grandes cristales de kamacita y taenita, revela una lenta tasa de enfriamiento de unos 1-10 °C por millón de años, lo que sugiere que el cuerpo progenitor tenía un diámetro de entre 100 y 200 kilómetros. Descubrimiento y conservaciónEl meteorito fue descubierto en 1920 por el agricultor Jacobus Hermanus Brits, mientras araba su campo. Al notar un bloque metálico que obstruía su arado, intentó moverlo sin éxito. Pronto, geólogos confirmaron su origen extraterrestre. Desde entonces, el gobierno namibio ha declarado el Hoba como monumento nacional, protegiéndolo de saqueos. Hoy, el sitio atrae a miles de turistas y científicos cada año. Importancia científicaEl estudio del Hoba proporciona claves sobre la formación del sistema solar. Los meteoritos metálicos como este son remanentes de núcleos de planetesimales diferenciados, cuerpos que se formaron en los primeros millones de años del sistema solar. El Hoba ha sido sometido a datación radiométrica, estimando su edad terrestre en unos 80.000 años, pero su edad cósmica (tiempo desde que se separó de su cuerpo progenitor) es de aproximadamente 200-300 millones de años. Curiosidades y datos destacadosPeso: 60 toneladas, el más pesado del mundo.Localización: Granja Hoba West, cerca de Grootfontein, Namibia.Composición: 84% hierro, 16% níquel.Edad del impacto: ~80.000 años.Sin cráter: Por su forma plana y baja velocidad de entrada.Además, es uno de los pocos meteoritos que no ha sido movido de su lugar de impacto original. Esto permite a los investigadores estudiar las condiciones exactas de su llegada. A lo largo de los años, se han extraído pequeñas muestras para investigación, pero la mayor parte permanece intacta. Turismo y visitasEl sitio del meteorito Hoba es accesible al público. Los visitantes pueden verlo in situ, rodeado por una cerca protectora. Un pequeño museo cercano ofrece información detallada. Se recomienda visitar durante la estación seca (mayo a octubre) para evitar las lluvias. La entrada es gratuita, aunque se agradecen donaciones para su mantenimiento. En resumen, el meteorito Hoba no solo es un testimonio de la historia cósmica, sino también un símbolo de Namibia. Su tamaño colosal y su composición metálica lo convierten en una maravilla geológica que sigue fascinando a científicos y público por igual. Si tienes la oportunidad de viajar al sur de África, no te pierdas este gigante caído del cielo.

Im Jahr 1920 entdeckte ein Farmer in der Nähe von Grootfontein in Namibia einen außergewöhnlichen Fund: Eine massive Eisenplatte von etwa 60 Tonnen Gewicht, die.