In its second year, the National Junior Hereford Association Fed Steer Shootout presented 19 awards to 15 Hereford youth.
“We are excited to award these Hereford youth who participated in the 2018 NJHA Fed Steer Shootout,” says Trey Befort, AHA director of commercial programs. “The program doubled in size in its second year, and we expect the program to continue to grow and give junior members an opportunity to gain valuable industry experience. Growing involvement in programs such as the Fed Steer Shootout is a great testament to the energy around the Hereford breed in the commercial industry, as well as the investment being made to advance youth programs.”
This year, 37 youth from 13 states entered 149 steers in the Fed Steer Shootout program. Contestants have the opportunity to collect actual feed yard performance and carcass merit data during the contest, ultimately learning about the importance of ultrasound technology, genetics and health. All steers were fed at Gregory Feedlots in Tabor, Iowa in partnership with David Trowbridge and the Gregory Feedlots.
BioZyme Inc. and the Hereford Research Foundation sponsored $10,000 in cash awards and Anderson Bean Boot Company provided handcrafted boots for the winners. Endovac Animal Health, UltraInsights Processing Lab, Inc., Geneseek, Allflex USA and Zoetis Animal Health also sponsored the program.
This year’s award winners from the High Plains Journal are the following:
Champion Purebred Pen of Three, Group Two—Wyatt Johnson, Milford, Iowa;
Champion Purebred Individual, Group One—Macy Reed, Green Ridge, Missouri;
Reserve Champion Purebred Individual, Group One—Macy Reed, Green Ridge, Missouri;
Champion Purebred Individual, Group Two—Cierra Collins, Chattanooga, Oklahoma;
Reserve Champion Purebred Individual, Group Two—Tava Gustafson, Junction City, Kansas;
Champion Commercial Pen of Three, Group One—MacKenzie Trowbridge, Tabor, Iowa;
Reserve Champion Commercial Pen of Three, Group One—Trevor Johnson, Centerville, South Dakota;
Champ Commercial Pen of Three, Group Two—Hannah Williams, Kearney, Nebraska;
Reserve Champion Commercial Pen of Three, Group Two—Ben Ridder, Marthasville, Missouri;
Champion Commercial Individual, Group One—Emily Cranwell, Hays, Kansas;
Reserve Champ Commercial Individual, Group One—Hannah Williams, Kearney, Nebraska;
Champion Commercial Individual, Group Two—Mark Haygood, Canadian, Texas;
Reserve Champion Commercial Individual, Group Two—Hannah Williams, Kearney, Nebraska;
Overall Champion, Group One—Regan Carlson, Murdock, Minnesota;
Overall Champion, Group Two—Hannah Williams, Kearney, Nebraska; and
Junior of the Year—Tate Johnson, Centerville, South Dakota.