Mild weather equates to frisky steers at the 4-H Beef Show Thursday morning

[August 08, 2018]  The Livestock Show Ring at the Logan County Fair on Thursday morning was sometimes circus like, as the animals participating in the 4-H Beef Show were really feeling their vinegar.

Judge Cody Zeeck attributed the friskiness of the animals to the comfortable weather and offered encouragement to frustrated kids who were working hard to keep their animals under control.

Thanks to a team of volunteers at the show, animals were kept under control for the most part, though one young showman lost hold on his animal, and once that occurred, there was no stopping the young beast until it had arrived safely back at the barn that he had called home the night before.

For the Logan County Fair Queen, Molly Schempp and local photographers, the big challenge was in getting some good shots of winning animals in the various classes. In some cases it was a matter of just accepting the fact that it was not going to happen and move on.

Having said that, the quality of animal coming before Judge Zeeck was excellent this year. Though the show was considerably smaller than in past years, the entries in the steer competition were exceptional, and the judge had some difficult decisions to make.

Before heading out to shake the hand of the Grand Champion Steer exhibitor, he said that this decision had been a little easier than the reserve would be. He liked the crossbred steer being shown by Ashlyn Hickey for a number of reasons, and for the judge, that choice was obvious.

The Grand Champion Steer received the Randy Westen Memorial Award, sponsored by Heartland Seed Production. Atlanta Ag Center – Phil Wilson sponsored the Reserve Champion Award.

True to his word, the judge took a few extra minutes before marking the Angus steer shown by Wade Davis the 2018 Reserve Champion.

Also showing in the ring was Paige Finchum with a beautiful silky blonde crossbred steer. The judge liked the steer a lot, and commented on its build and attractiveness in the ring. During the breed judging the silky took Reserve Champion and was a big contender in the final cut for overall reserve champion.

Finchum missed out on the reserve champion seat, but did walk away as the winner of the Rate of Gain Competition. The rate of Rate of Gain Trophy was sponsored by the Rockin’ G Land and Cattle Company, and was presented to Finchum by Robert Gordon.

Others who had the time to pose for a picture after winning their breed classes included:

Wade Davis and Ariana Hinkle – Grand and Reserve Champion Angus. The award for the Champion Steer was sponsored by State Bank of Lincoln. The Reserve Award was sponsored by Tabor Feed Mill and Farm Supply.

Colton Westen – Shorthorn Champion. In the shorthorn category an award was sponsored by the Logan County Farm Bureau, and another was given in memory of Troy Powell by the Jack Powell family.

Kyleigh Heinzel – Shorthorn Reserve Champion. The award for the Reserve Shorthorn was sponsored by Green’s Diamond G Farms – Wes and Martha Green.

Charlotte Toohill – Simmental Champion. The Logan County Simmental Association sponsored the award for the champion animal.

[Nila Smith]