Beef Magazine

KANSAS CITY, Mo. ­­­— After a day of anticipation and three rounds of stiff competition, Kasey Herman, Skiatook, Okla., earned the coveted champion senior showman honor July 16 against nearly 100 competitors at the Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Kansas City. Reserve champion was Mark Sims, Elgin, Okla.

After narrowing the field, the top 10 seniors not only had to prove themselves in the showring and under the fire of questions, but also at the fitting chute. Judges Mark Kelley, Ennis, Texas, and his sister, Robyn Samsel, Cloverdale, Ind., said, “We could stay here all night and it would still be close between all 10 of these individuals. This is an amazing group of seniors.”

The other finalists were: Chandis Kottkamp, Clayton, Ind., third; Grady McMahon, Ayr, Neb., fourth; Drew Perez, Nara Visa, N.M., fifth; Sarah Stream, Chariton, Iowa, sixth; Geoffrey Andras, Connerville, Okla., seventh; Randa Owen, Ft. Payne, Ala., eighth; Roxane Gebhart, Claremore, Okla., ninth; and Kandi Knippa, Seguin, Texas, 10th.

Intermediate, junior and peewee showmanship competitions were also evaluated July 16. Kelley and Samsel judged the intermediate showmanship while Greg and Pearl Walthall, Windsor, Mo., judged the junior and peewee divisions.

Kari Brumley, Orovada, Nev., earned the champion intermediate showman title and Keysto Stotz, Skiatook, Okla., was named reserve champion intermediate showman. Grand champion junior honors went to peewee showman Dylan Bauer, Bonfield, Ill., and the reserve championship belt buckle to Rylee Barber, Channing, Texas. The first championship of the day went to junior showman Makayla Rutt, Campbell, Neb., and reserve was Lucas Stumpf, Columbia, Ill.

Contact: Holli Parke, jrintern@hereford.org or (816) 842-3757

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Austin Breeding, Miami, Texas, was the lucky winner of a showbox, generously

donated by Sullivan Supply who co-sponsored the showmanship competition. All showmanship competitors were eligible to win the showbox as one name was drawn from each showmanship heat and put into a raffle. Breeding was the final name drawn.

The 2008 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo was sponsored in part by Biozyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo.; Fort Dodge Animal Health, Overland Park, Kan.; and UMB Bank and the RC Kemper Charitable Trust, Kansas City, Mo.

The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is one of the most active junior programs in the country with approximately 3,000 members. The NJHA’s mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit www.jrhereford.org.

For JNHE pictures and additional news releases, visit www.herefordphotoshop.com/media. Enter “Junior08” when prompted for a password.