 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Show rings come alive as Expo arrives
4-H, FFA members train, show prize beef animals, sheep in quest of placings, ribbons
| By Jerry Kirk and Claire Sellers Photos by Claire Sellers and Chris Villines |
8/31/2012 |
Morgan Lehnert of Lawrence County, right, was named the grand champion winner of the Market Steer Show at the Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition beef events held July 9-12 in Murfreesboro. Her 1,305-pound entry was tops in Division III before earning the overall prize. Celebrating Morgan’s win are, from left, her mother, Misty, father, Justin, and brother, Cole.
|
|
|
|
1
of
9
|
|
|
view all thumbnails for this gallery |
Stout steers, haughty heifers, and showy sheep brought idle show rings to life in Murfreesboro and Cookeville in July as 4-H and FFA members and their prize animals competed for top awards in the 2012 Tennessee Junior Livestock Exposition.
The 41st edition of Expo — one of the largest and most prestigious events of its kind in the nation — attracted 1,172 head of fine Tennessee livestock. And on hand to put them through their show ring paces were the 564 young exhibitors who had raised, trained, and no doubt pampered the animals back home. The exhibitors came from 61 of Tennessee’s 95 counties.
Expo beef events were held July 9-12 at the Tennessee Livestock Center in Murfreesboro, and sheep competition followed a week later — July 16-19 — at Hyder-Burks Arena in Cookeville.
The 2012 Market Steer Show — always an Expo highlight — attracted 61 entries that were raised and shown by 58 4-H and FFA members from 19 Tennessee counties. Lawrence Countian Morgan Lehnert’s 1,305-pound steer captured the show’s coveted championship ribbon. Selling for $3.06 a pound at an auction that followed the show, the prize steer earned a $4,000 paycheck for Morgan.
“I worked so hard for this day,” said Morgan, an eighth-grader at Ethridge Middle School. “My parents asked me if I wanted to play basketball or softball, but I wanted this to be my sport. I spent time every day rinsing my steer, feeding him, and working with him. I practically lived with him!”
Colin Howd of Henry County took reserve champion honors with his 1,250-pound entry for which Howd Construction paid $1.76 a pound — or $2,000 — at the auction.
The steers of both Morgan and Colin captured grand and reserve champion titles in the Division III contest before vying for the overall championship.
Winners in the other three divisions were:
Division I — Zack Plowman, Henry County, champion; Ally Morrow, Polk County, reserve.
Division II — Grant Saum, McNairy County, champion and reserve.
Division IV — Caitlin Greer, Claiborne County, champion; Mary Pitts, Houston County, reserve.
Emerging as first-place winners in the highly regarded showmanship competition were Blythe Graham, Cumberland, Senior Level II (11th and 12th grades); Blake Bowman, Williamson, Senior Level I (ninth and 10th grades); Morgan Lehnert, Lawrence, Junior High (seventh and eighth grades); Wyatt Haley, Williamson, Junior (fifth and sixth grades); Eli Dotson, Explorer (fourth grade).
Other Market Steer Show awards, listed in order of finish, were:
County group of five — Henry, Williamson, and Houston.
Outstanding county exhibit — Williamson.
Top 10 carcass awards — Alexander Coleman, Houston; Houston Hebert, Williamson; Cheyenne Taylor, Williamson; Wesley Goodman, Williamson; Colin Howd, Henry; Zack Plowman, Henry; Corbin Hughes, Williamson; Brittany Yates, Williamson; Addison Wilson, Cumberland; Miranda Graham, Rhea.
First-place Market Show Premier Exhibitor — Kaley Lee, Franklin, Senior Level II; Whitney Morrow, Polk, Senior Level I; Tyler Haley, Williamson, Junior High; Ally Morrow, Polk, Junior; and Eli Dotson, Lincoln, Explorer.
Registered Beef Heifer Show
A total of 103 exhibitors from 49 counties showed 299 registered heifers in this popular event, which featured 12 breed classes. Winners were:
Angus — Mackenzie Bracewell, Williamson, champion; Deanna Schoolfield, Henry, reserve; Joshua Rollins, Bedford, champion bred-by-exhibitor.
Charolais — Jacob Wade, Bedford, champion; Haley Brazel, Sumner, reserve; James Baird, Wilson, champion bred-by-exhibitor.
Chi-influenced — Blythe Graham, Cumberland, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor; Chole Dillard, Cannon, reserve; Morgan Lehnert, Lawrence, champion bred-by-exhibitor.
Hereford — Libby Rushton, Humphreys, champion; Michelle Smith, Trousdale, reserve, champion bred-by-exhibitor, and reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Limousin — Paul Steelman, Cannon, champion; Ashlynn Light, Hawkins, reserve and champion bred-by-exhibitor; Taylor Green, Cumberland, reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Other Breeds — Elizabeth Dodson, White, champion; Jaxon Veach, Williamson, reserve; Kendall Vanwinkle, Blount, champion bred-by-exhibitor.
Polled Hereford — John Woolfolk, Madison, champion; Kendell Garrell, Marshall, reserve; Claire Garrell, Morgan, champion bred-by-exhibitor; Jordan Hopkins, Franklin, reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Salers — Haley Harris, Wilson, champion, reserve, champion bred-by-exhibitor, and reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Appendix Shorthorn — Hallie Dillard, Smith, champion, reserve, champion bred-by-exhibitor, and reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Shorthorn — Samantha Roberts, McMinn, champion; Melinda Perkins, Henry, reserve; Janna Owen, Lincoln, champion bred-by-exhibitor; Aaron Lay, Monroe, reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Simmental — Tyler Haley, Williamson, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor; Kayla Jackson, Wilson, reserve and champion bred-by-exhibitor.
Percentage Simmental — Addison Wilson, Cumberland, champion; Wyatt Hayley, Williamson, reserve; Ally Hargrave, Lincoln, champion bred-by-exhibitor (no reserve bred-by-exhibitor).
Kelly Jarrell Memorial Award (county group of five heifers), listed in order of finish — Williamson, Marshall, Franklin, Lincoln, Henry, Sumner, Rutherford, Polk.
First-place winners, showmanship — Blythe Graham, Cumberland, Senior Level II; Samantha Reese, Marshall, Senior Level I; Kristen Brown, White, Junior High; Hallie Dillard, Smith, Junior; Deanna Schoolfield, Henry, Explorer.
First-place winners, Heifer Premier Exhibitor — Rosa Haynes, Polk, Senior Level II; Emily Ivey, Loudon, Senior Level I; LeAnna Turner, Wilson, Junior High; Kendall Garrell, Marshall, Junior; Janna Owen, Lincoln, Explorer.
First-place winners, Beef Skillathon — Rosa Haynes, Polk, Senior Level II; Whitney Morrow, Polk, Senior Level I; Abigayle Pollock, Lincoln, Junior High; Aaron Lay, Monroe, Junior; Janna Owen, Lincoln, Explorer.
Commercial Heifer Show
In a separate Commercial Heifer Show, which attracted 103 entries from 26 counties, top awards were captured by Taylor Green, Cumberland, champion; Colin Howd, Henry, reserve; Morgan Lehnert, Lawrence, champion farm-bred; and Allison Higgins, Cannon, reserve farm-bred.
Taking first-place honors in the showmanship competition were Allison Higgins, Cannon, Senior Level II; Samantha Reese, Marshall, Senior Level I; Morgan Lehnert, Lawrence, Junior High; Wyatt Haley, Williamson, Junior.
On to Cookeville
As is the case with each Expo, dozens of eager 4-H’ers and FFA members, along with their show-ready sheep, headed to Cookeville in hopes of capturing top placings in a wide array of competitive events.
Take a look at these numbers as an indication of just how popular sheep-raising is among the state’s younger set: The Cookeville competition featured 709 sheep entered and shown by 239 exhibitors from 41 Tennessee counties.
And a look at the number of quality entries in a single event — the Market Lamb Show — validates that these enterprising exhibitors are dedicated to raising and showing championship sheep. This year, in the market lamb event alone, 118 exhibitors from 34 counties showed 256 animals.
When the show ring dust had settled and the judge had made his decision in that heated competition, an entry of Karley Warner from adjoining White County captured the grand championship ribbon while Haley Brazel of Sumner County earned reserve champion honors.
After the show, happy Haley expressed pure pleasure that her Co-op-fed entry had finished as reserve champion: “I feel really proud of my sheep. He did his best, and that’s all I can ask for.”
Besides garnering the show’s top honors, Karley’s and Haley’s prize sheep also captured champion and reserve ribbons, respectively, in the competition for Tennessee-bred market lambs.
Several area businesses — including White County Farmers Cooperative — and individuals paid $2,600 for Karley’s 137-pound grand champion lamb. Another group of bidders bought Haley’s 141-pound reserve champion for $600.
Here are the Market Lamb Show winners, listed with their home counties:
Crossbred black-face — Karley Warner, White, grand champion and champion Tennessee-bred; Paul Thompson, Cumberland, reserve grand champion and reserve Tennessee-bred.
Crossbred white-face — Samantha Reese, Marshall, champion and champion Tennessee-bred; Ashley Tuttle, Sumner, reserve; Haley Webb, Hawkins, reserve Tennessee-bred.
Hampshire — Haley Brazel, Sumner, champion and champion Tennessee-bred; Karley Warner, White, reserve champion and reserve Tennessee-bred.
Other breeds — Cassie McConkey, Loudon, champion and champion Tennessee-bred; Cora Key, Clay, reserve and reserve Tennessee-bred.
Shropshire — Taylor Cox, Macon, champion and champion Tennessee-bred; Jade Ellis, Macon, reserve and reserve champion Tennessee-bred.
Suffolk — Craig Wininger, Hawkins, champion; Karley Warner, White, reserve and champion Tennessee-bred; Jade Ellis, Macon, reserve Tennessee-bred.
Showmanship — Grant Saum, McNairy, Senior Level II; Cassie McConkey, Loudon, Senior Level I; Madison Moats, Loudon, Junior High; Murray Perkins, Henry, Junior; Kenna Lambert, Campbell, Explorer.
Skillathon — Rachel Wolters, Maury, Senior Level II; Gage Goddard, Loudon, Senior Level I; Madison Moats, Loudon, Junior High; Garrett Franklin, Clay, Junior; Summer Beeler, Union, Explorer.
Premier Exhibitor — Jared Bruhin, Sevier, Senior Level II; Cassie McConkey, Loudon, Senior Level I; Luci Allen, Macon, Junior High; Jacey Monicer, Hawkins, Junior; Kayla Lambert, Campbell, Explorer.
Breeding Ewe Show
Seventy-seven exhibitors from 22 counties showed 280 registered sheep in the 2012 Breeding Ewe Show. Here are the winners:
Cheviot — Rachel Wolters, Maury, champion, champion flock; Justin Cross, Knox, reserve, champion-bred-by-exhibitor, reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Dorset — Emily Ellison, Cocke, champion, champion bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock; Haley Webb, Hawkins, reserve; Dylan Belcher, Trousdale, reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Hampshire — Madison Moats, Loudon, champion; Gage Goddard, Loudon, reserve, champion flock; Hannah Cross, Knox, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Jacob — Gage Willis, Overton, champion and reserve.
Katahdin — Mary Evelyn Peckenpaugh, Dyer, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Montadale — Jared Bruhin, Sevier, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Natural color — Morgan Cox, Loudon, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Oxford — Nathan Long, Loudon, champion, reserve, champion bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock; Brittany Gardner, Washington, reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Other breeds, wool — Maryanna McClure, Dyer, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Other breeds, mutton — Dillon Jones, Warren, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Polypay — Ladonna Tanner, Wilson, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor.
Shropshire — Jared Bruhin, Sevier, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Southdown — Kristen Walker, Blount, champion; Cassie McConkey, Loudon, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Suffolk — Trenton Melhorn, Morgan, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Tunis — Shannon Palko, Knox, champion, reserve, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor, champion flock.
Showmanship — Tori Bryant, Lawrence, Senior Level II; Martin Dickey, Union, Senior Level I; Justin Cross, Knox, Junior High; Abby Tipton, Loudon, Junior, Larkin Moats, Loudon, Explorer.
Premier Exhibitors — Rachel Wolters, Maury, Senior Level II; Savannah Knight, Macon, Senior Level I; Madison Moats, Loudon, Junior High; Cooper Belcher, Trousdale, Junior; Larkin Moats, Loudon, Explorer.
Supreme champion bred-by-exhibitor — Jared Bruhin, Sevier; reserve, Cassie McConkey, Loudon.
Robert Powell Memorial Award for supreme champion flock — Cassie McConkey, Loudon.
County group of five, listed in order of finish — Williamson, Loudon (second and third), Union, Knox.
Commercial Ewe Show
John Edwards of Campbell County continued his Expo winning ways by capturing the grand championship of this year’s Commercial Ewe Show, which attracted 173 entries from 29 counties. Reserve champion honors went to Karley Warner of White County.
John also had the grand and reserve champions among farm-bred commercial ewes , and Karley added to her haul of Expo ribbons and awards by taking reserve champion honors.
Here are the other Commercial Ewe Show winners:
White-face, Lamb Division — Karley Warner, White, champion; Ben Davis, Hawkins, reserve; Haley Webb, Hawkins, champion farm-bred; Emily Ellison, Loudon, reserve farm-bred.
White-face, Yearling Division — Lucas Mendel, Williamson, champion; Morgan Cox, reserve and farm-bred champion; Xiaodi Whitfield, Sullivan, reserve farm-bred.
Champions — Karley Warner, White, grand; Ben Davis, Hawkins, reserve; Haley Webb, champion farm-bred; Morgan Cox, Loudon, reserve farm-bred.
Black-face, Lamb Division — John Edwards, Campbell, champion, champion and reserve farm-bred; Karley Warner, White, reserve.
Black-face, Yearling Division — John Edwards, Campbell, champion and champion farm-bred; Cooper Belcher, Trousdale, reserve; Lucas Mendel, Williamson, reserve farm-bred.
County group of five — Campbell County, first; Loudon County, second; and Trousdale County, third.
Premier Exhibitor — John Edwards, Campbell, Senior Level II; Gage Goddard, Loudon, Senior Level I; Nathan Long, Loudon, Junior High; Garrett Franklin, Clay, Junior; Kenna Lambert, Campbell, Explorer.
Showmanship — Jared Bruhin, Sevier, Senior Level II; Cassie McConkey, Loudon, Senior Level I; Taylor Cox, Macon, Junior High; Garrett Franklin, Clay, Junior; Kenna Lambert, Campbell, Explorer.
Overall Skillathon — Rachel Wolters, Maury, Senior Level II; Gage Goddard, Loudon, Senior Level I; Madison Moats, Loudon, Junior High; Garrett Franklin, Clay, Junior; Summer Beeler, Union, Explorer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|