Beef Magazine

Contact: Chris Stephens, cstephens@hereford.org or (816) 842-3757

July 24, 2008

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – More than 600 youth and their families gathered at the 2008 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo (JNHE) in Kansas City, July 12-19, to showcase their talents, exhibit genetics from their young breeding programs and celebrate the Hereford breed. The Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri state Hereford organizations and breeders, along with the American Hereford Association hosted “Herefords – in the Heart of America” at the American Royal Complex.

In addition to the cattle shows, juniors and adults competed in skill-based contests ranging from livestock judging to team fitting, and even a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City. Fort Dodge Animal Health, Overland Park, Kan., was the education sponsor for the national junior event.

Photos of champions may be downloaded at www.herefordphotoshop.com/media. Enter “Junior08” when prompted for a password. Contest winners are as follows:

Illustrated Speech

This is the final level of competition for members who have won their state competitions. The National Organization of Poll-ettes sponsored the illustrated speech contest.

Peewee participants: Noah Benedict, Mahomet, Ill.; Mason Blinson, Buies Creek, N.C.; Walker Dunn, Cochranton, Pa.; Ben Jensen, Courtland, Kan.; Madison Katzenberger, Monroe, Wis.; Amy Larson, Tecumseh, Okla.; Justin Moser, Westmoreland, Kan.; Peyton Schmitt, Nichols, Iowa; and Mitchell Tucker, North Platte, Neb.

Junior:

1. Will Marks, Waxahachie, Texas

2. Kelsey Stimpson, Melba, Idaho

3. Taryn Adcock, Assumption, Ill.

Intermediate:

1. Chandler Mulvaney, Opelika, Ala.

2. Ashley VanDeWalle, Cedar Rapids, Neb.

3. Tamar Adcock, Assumption, Ill.

Senior:

1. Matt Woolfolk, Columbia, Tenn.

2. Morgan Firestine, Womelsdorf, Pa.

3. Audrey Hambright, Chapman, Kan.

Extemporaneous Speech

Intermediate:

1.Rossie Blinson, Buies Creek, N.C.

Senior:

1. Cassie Bacon, Prairie Grove, Ark.

Promotional Poster

Peewee:

1. Kate Mead, Concord, Ark.

2. Makayla Simmerman

3. Ben Holt, Caldwell, Idaho

Junior:

1. Katelyn Dorrell, Highland, Kan.

2. J.D. Schnitker, Turkey, Texas

3. Kelsey Repenning, Mitchell, S.D.

Senior:

1. Jennifer Shultz, Dillsburg, Pa.

2. Katie Shultz, Dillsburg, Pa.

3. Karen Roberts, Douglas, Ga.

Livestock Judging

Peewee individual: Tie for 1st place

1. Blakelee Hayes, Ada, Okla.

1. Whitney Steckel, Taylor, Neb.

3. Justin Moser

Peewee team:

1. Illinois – Korbin Collins, Flanagan; Melinda Braun, Columbia; Beau Branyon, Assumption; and Noah Benedict

Junior individual:

1. Brooke Jensen, Courtland, Kan.

2. Courtney Eudy, Harrisburg, N.C.

3. Harley Rogers, Hamilton, Texas

Junior team:

1. Texas 1 – Kaine Warnken, Schulenburg; Harley and Koby Rogers, Hamilton; and J.D. Schnitker

Intermediate individual: Three way tie for 1st place

1. Jake Bloomberg, Berwick, Ill.

1. Teyler Heitman, Edgewood,Texas

1. Brady Jensen, Courtland, Kan.

Intermediate team:

1. Georgia 2 – Carla Weissend, Montgomery, Ala.; Hunter Grayson, Watkinsville; Whitney Sheppard, Sylvania; and Tommie Lynne Mead, Midville

Senior individual:

1. Travis Meteer, Blue Mound, Ill. Perfect score

2. Ryan Malone, Abingdon, Ill.

3. Erick Schmidt, Gonzales, Texas

Senior team:

1. Illinois 2 – Travis Meteer; Cody Crum, Rushville; and Danielle Reynolds, Rushville

Adult individual: Tie for 3rd place

1. Mark Keahey, Sulphur Springs, Texas

2. Lori Brown, Junction City, Kan.

Adult team:

1. Oklahoma – Curtis and Steven Curry, McAlester; Chris Frans, Thomas; and Keith Miller, Council Hill

Hereford Bowl

Teams of four were asked questions about the Hereford industry and animal science.

Champion junior team: Oklahoma – Spencer Miller, Council Hill; Nick Eck, Putnam; Michael Larson, Tecumseh; and Ty Smith, Waynonka

Champion senior team: Oklahoma – Bryce Bethel, Claremore; Adrienne Bethel, Claremore; Laken Lierle, Fort Lobb; and Keysto Stotz, Skiatook

Top written score: Lukas Chachere, Dayton, Texas

Team Marketing

Teams “sell” an animal to a panel of judges by promoting pedigree information, performance data and visual characteristics of the animal.

Champion junior team: Texas – Dalton Cleveland, Pottsboro; Rylee Barber, Channing; and Shelby Rogers, Hamilton

Champion senior team: Arkansas – Cassie, Amanda and Justin Bacon, Prairie Grove

Team Fitting (Sponsored by Andis)

A team of three has 30 minutes to fit a heifer for a panel of judges. One member of the team then shows the heifer.

Champion team: Illinois – Kagney and Korbin Collins, Flanagan; and Travis Meteer, Blue Mound

Outstanding State Junior Members

Each state with participants at the JNHE can recognize one member with this award.

Alabama: Katlin Mulvaney

Arkansas: Justin Bacon

Colorado: Kevin Ernst, Windsor

Georgia: Jacob Henderson, Manor

Illinois: Travis Meteer

Indiana: Cody Beck, Bainbridge

Iowa: Jordan Kelly, Independence

Kansas: Alex Acheson, Woodbine

Maryland: Melissa Grimmel, Jarrettsville and Karey Howes, Taneytown

Michigan: Lindsay Bielema, Ada

Minnesota: Jodi Hanson, Comfrey

Mississippi: Jena Dimberg, Charleston

Missouri: Jocelyn Butler

Nebraska: Kaci Nelson, Burwell

New Jersey: Cody Gerlach, Far Hills

New York: Jake Metch, Bainbridge

North Carolina: Alexis Eudy, Harrisburg

Ohio: Garth Regula, Fresno

Oklahoma: Staci Curry, McAlester

Oregon: Maddie Moore, Cove

Pennsylvania: Austin Howe, Wagontown

South Dakota: Paul Atkins, Tea

Tennessee: Kendall Singleton, Atwood

Texas: Kyle Keahey, Sulphur Springs

Virginia: Sarah Grace Kenley, McCoy

Washington: Courtney Tribble, Payallup

Wisconsin: Danielle Starr, Manawa

Wyoming: Jessica Middleswarth, Torrington

3-on-3 Basketball

Champion peewee team: Illinois – Noah Benedict; Korbin Collins and Dylan Bauer, Bonfield

Champion junior team:

Illinois – Rickie McKnown, Atlanta; Blake Lowderman, Macomb and Brian Yoder, Edinburg

Champion intermediate team:

Luke Schroder, Anita, Iowa

Justin Eck, Putnam, Okla.

Cameron Curry, McAlester, Okla.

Champion senior/adult team: Wisconsin – Eric and Aaron Katzenberger, Monroe; and Brady Fischer, Caledonia, Mich.

State Scrapbook

1. Pennsylvania

2. Texas

3. Oklahoma

Golden Pitchfork Award

1. Iowa

Highest Junior Membership Increase Award

1. Missouri

Hereford Grill-off

The Hereford Grill-off included each state assembling a team of six members and presenting a recipe to a panel of judges. The purpose of the Grill-off was to promote beef and its benefits to a healthy diet.

Champion junior team: Kansas – Nicole and Austin Rosencutter, Topeka; Allen Dorrell, Highland; Justin Moser; Logan Marple, Westmoreland and Wyatt Schumann, Lecompton

Champion adult team: Texas – Barbara Metch, Canton; Patsy and Jeremy Workman, Whitesboro, Texas; Sandi Warnken, Schulenburg; and Paul Day, Waxahachie

Hereford Idol

Vocal category

1. Karey Howes, Taneytown, Md.

2. Jeff Jenkins, Freeport, Texas

3. Troy Longnecker, Annville, Pa.

Non-vocal division

1. Heather Bradford, Saint Marys, Ohio

Photography

Peewee

Hereford cattle:

1. Hattie Duncan, Wingate, Ind.

2. Ben Jensen

3. Sarah Lawrence, Avilla, Ind.

Around the farm or ranch:

1. Rylee Barber

2. Ben Jensen

3. Garrett Phelps, Grandview, Texas

People:

1. Justin Moser

2. Garrett Phelps

3. Chance Simpson, Bend, Ore.

Junior

Hereford cattle:

1. Del Adcock, Assumption, Ill.

2. Emilee Holt, Caldwell, Idaho

3. Dean Adcock, Assumption, Ill.

Around the farm or ranch:

1. Blake Tucker, North Platte, Neb.

2. Bailey McKay, Franklin, Neb.

3. Tyler Rau, Stanley, Iowa

People:

1. J.D. Schnitker

2. Emilee Holt

3. Blake Tucker

Intermediate

Hereford cattle:

1. Bailey Pope, Lathrop, Mo.

2. Joel Butler, Republic, Mo.

3. Kadee Melton, Sulphur Springs, Texas

Around the farm or ranch:

1. Sheridan Davis

2. Joel Butler

3. Bailey Pope

People:

1. Rossie Blinson

2. Sheridan Davis

3. Morgan Gregory, Houstonia, Mo.

Senior

Hereford cattle:

1. Jocelyn Butler, Republic, Mo.

2. Denelle Billman, Newcomerstown, Ohio

3. Kristin Brown, Houston, Texas

Around the farm or ranch:

1. Jocelyn Butler

2. Denelle Billman

3. Amanda Free, Bradford, Ark.

People:

1. Kelcy Schroder, Princeton, Iowa

2. Jocelyn Butler

3. Denelle Billman

Creative Arts (Sponsored by the national Organization of Poll-ettes)

Pre-peewee:

1. Logan Schmitt, Nicholas, Iowa

2. T.J. Lau, Aurora, Iowa

3. Jessica Jensen, Courtland, Kan.

Peewee:

1. Sarah Lawrence, Avilla, Ind.

2. Jake Sims, Edmond, Okla.

3. Cassidy Hufnagel, Luther, Okla.

Junior:

1. Hayley Hayhurst, Terre Haute, Ind.

2. Mason Blinson

3. Bailey Peters, Centralia, Wash.

Intermediate:

1. Jennifer Shultz

2. Charlsie Craig, Scandia, Kan.

3. Makayla Rutt, Campbell, Neb.

Senior:

1. Allison Walker, Philadelphia, Pa.

2. Katlin Mulvaney

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 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.

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