Championship Livestock Show showcases special showmen 

There was a little different atmosphere in the Prairie Pavilion during the Championship Livestock Show, Sept. 5, from other Grand Drive competitions at the Kansas State Fair. 

There also might have been a little less tension in the air and a little extra sparkle in the showmen’s eyes. They might even have a smile on their face instead of their normal competition face in the show ring. 

The Championship Livestock Show is a showcase of hardworking youth livestock exhibitors at the KSF and competitors with special needs. 

Special athletes are paired up with coaches, and according to an Aug. 13 Grand Drive Facebook post, there were 58 exhibitor coaches and 38 athletes, breaking a record for participation. The 2025 coaches included: Abigail Morales, Addison Burns, Adley O’Shea, Alisandra Seidel, Bo Doll, Braden Gillespie, Braelyn Durham, Braxton Guthrie, Braxton Young, Braylee Kraisinger, Brooke Sipke, Caden Guthrie, Chase Lewman, Colton Doll, Danica Davis , David Hays, Dawson Wood , Delaney Figge, Ella Hoeltzel, Emeri Deters , Faith Marcy, Faith Perry, G. Michelle Tevington, Genayla Warnken, Grace Meier, Grayson Noterman, Hailey Unruh, Hunter McClure, Isabel Wright, Jaci Falkenstien, James (Junior) Beauchamp, Jancy Goodno, Jaylee Speer, Josie Heter, Julia Hopkins, Kadi McComb, Kamryn Kirkham, Kamryn Meyer, Karci Kimzey, Kassidy Kirkham, Kate Heikes, Katherine Tevington, Kaylee Schumacher, Kayli Snyder, Keaton Kirmer, Keeli Kimzey, Kennedy Keatley, Kodi McComb, Kora Welch, Laney McDonald, Layton Hopkins, Madelynn Ikner, Maggie Bass, Marly Cramer, Maylee Ballinger, Ryder Heter, Sawyer Hardman-Stevenson, Teagan Deyoe, and Zephry Landoll. 

During the first heat of beef competitors, emcees Clinton Laflin, Midway District #15 interim district director and livestock production agent, and Brityne Rucker, KWCH 12 morning anchor and Eye on Kansas reporter, told the audience how impressed they were with coaches and athletes. 

“It’s really an awesome event. Again, my favorite of the entire year,” Rucker said. 

Rucker said there’s many learning opportunities in the show ring and the athletes have an opportunity to learn how to handle livestock and pick up on social cues. 

Laflin explained what the judges would be looking for and described the show process to those who may not know what it’s all about. 

“From a judging perspective, these judges are really looking at both the animal and the youth showing,” he said. “From an animal perspective in a beef class, if we’re looking at market cattle, we’re looking for muscle, depth of body, feeding ability, fleshing ability, basically anything to do with on the rail or in a market setting.” 

For breeding livestock, judges are looking at those animals as if they’re going to go back into a cow herd. Structure, eye appeal, rib shape and muscle are important.  

“It’s just a combination, and those things what I would call are important to the beef industry,” Laflin said. “They’re trying to find the best animal for that specific class and breed that they’re judging.” 

Showmanship is judged on each exhibitor’s skill presenting the animal. 

“I think that that’s always been a fun one for me to both participate in and judge, because you’re looking at individuals’ ability to show one—to strengthen that animal’s strengths and maybe hide a few of their weaknesses. So really, showmanship is incredibly important to have that animal be presented properly,” he said. 

Laflin said, at that point, athletes and coaches were doing a great job working together. Rucker agreed. 

“This is really an opportunity to provide a new space for people who have a disability to learn about agriculture,” she said. “It kind of sets them up in a space that nurtures and a sustained environment where you don’t focus on the disabilities, you focus on the abilities. So, this is a really awesome opportunity for those athletes to come out and get to display exactly what they can do.” 

Laflin said the show is something that’s “very near and dear” to his heart, because of his struggle with cerebral palsy—walking with a cane and walker. 

“We had to find creative ways for me to be involved in a show ring and make some adaptations in my walker to be able to get through the chips and all of that and be able to break a heifer to walk with my walker,” he said. “Being able to help on this side of the mic with a show like today is really, really cool for me.” 

Laflin said in 4-H a popular phrase is “learn by doing” and the championship show is a great example of that for the kids who were able to be coaches. The increase in the number of coaches willing to participate is a testament to the program. 

“The record numbers this year with this event—we have emceed this event for a few years now, and we have seen participation in this just skyrocket,” Rucker said. “This is the second year we have included beef in the show.” 

Keeping the beef show animals calm is important for any time spent in the show ring, and Laflin said the process does take some time for the cattle to get used to it. 

“You always kind of work backwards away from your first show and make sure you give yourself enough time,” he said. “But really, I think it’s a testament. Every year when we’re at the Kansas State Fair—they’re all calm.” 

Rucker said the coaches are top notch as well.  

“What a testament to the coaches out here, you can see that they have really put their heart and soul into it,” she said, noting the cattle and goat showmen, too. “You can see them interacting with the athletes as well, trying to teach them their ways. You can see a lot of them have show sticks out here. They’re working with their cattle, kind of teaching the trade a little bit.” 

Laflin said it does take a certain degree of fortitude to be willing to come out in the show ring with an animal that could weigh up to 1,600 pounds and be able to show it. 

“I think that’s just a testament to these kids’ willingness to try new things,” he said. “I think that’s the point of this show, is to just expose our youth to different opportunities and different growth opportunities. “I’m very proud of these kids for the willingness I come out and to do that.” 

And the beaming smiles in the backdrop photos of the coaches at athletes made all the hard work before and during the show worth it. 

Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].