Youth Shows at the Beef Expo Showcase Quality Cattle

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The 2000 Virginia Beef Expo was again held at the Virginia Horse Center at Lexington, and included a strong youth component. These facilities allowed the entire Beef Expo to be held on Friday and Saturday, April 14-15. The youth cattle shows highlighted the Saturday schedule in which 245 cattle were exhibited. These shows were generously supported by these sponsors: Virginia Beef Cattle Improvement Association, Farmers & Merchants Bank of Rockingham, Virginia Junior Angus Association, Virginia Junior Simmental Association, Virginia Junior Hereford Association, and Virginia Junior Shorthorn Association. In addition, Pfizer, Inc. and Southern States Cooperative were sponsors of the showrings where cattle were exhibited.

Two judges shared the duty of placing the cattle, as two shows were held simultaneously in the spacious arena on the grounds of the Horse Center. Keith Bryan, an instructor in the Department of Dairy and Animal Science at Pennsylvania State University and who also coaches Penn State's livestock judging team worked in one half of the arena. Judging the other shows was Rick Hickenbottom, the Programs Coordinator of Livestock Marketing Division of Southern States Cooperative.

In the senior division of showmanship Corey Omps of Berryville received Champion honors, and Cassidy Wieben of Leesburg took home the Reserve Champion trophy. A total of 28 seniors competed. The Intermediate Division included 30 contestants. Coming out on top was Michelle Pullen of Charlottesville, and Chelsea Wieben of Leesburg was Reserve Champion.

The two younger groups of showmanship also provided high quality competition. The Junior Division included 26 competitors. Champion was Josh Wynkoop of Purcellville, and Mandy Richardson of Louisa was named Reserve Champion. Finally, 7 members participated in the Novice Division, which was for first-year beef showmen who are 12 years old or less. First place went to Nathan Norbo of Waterford, and Runner-up was Jason Danner of Lovettsville, Virginia.

Thirty-seven commercial Replacement heifers were shown, ranging from young calves to coming two-year-olds. The Champion was exhibited by Cassidy Wieben of Leesburg, and Reserve Champion was led by Jennifer Showalter of Lexington. In the Other Breeds of Registered Heifers five females were exhibited. The Champion was a Limousin yearling displayed by Dale Michael of Elkton. The Reserve Champion was Elizabeth Dofflemyer, also of Elkton, with a Charolais entry.

In the Shorthorn division there were 22 cattle shown. Shorthorn breeders who generously supported the show included R-Bar Inc., Bellevue Farm, Oak Ridge Shorthorns, Marston Shorthorns, Leneva Shorthorns, Twin Creek Farm, Muddy Run Farm, Heizer Shorthorns, Rocky Acres Shorthorns, and Whiskey Creek Farm. Josh Wynkoop of Purcellville took both Champion and Reserve Champion heifer honors. For the second consecutive year the steer show champion was an entry from Cassidy Wieben of Leesburg. Josh Wynkoop took the reserve championship in the steer show.

In the Simmental show 25 cattle were shown. Many Simmental breeders sponsored awards, including Deer Creek Farm, Reasor Simmentals, Doyle & Doyle Farm, Mohlers Simmentals, Linden Farm, McDonald Farms, Billy Seay, Scott & Kim Heslep, Thornspring Simmentals, Harmony Farms, Dave & Carol Dillon, Southwest Va. Classic Sale, Rocky Top Farm, Buena Vista Simmental, and B&B Simmentals. The Champion heifer was exhibited by Kaitlyn Ambler, and Zack Hileman of Lexington led the Reserve Champion. Kristy Mohler from Rockbridge Baths had Champion Bull, with Mindy McCroskey at the halter of the Reserve Champion.

Twenty-five Herefords were shown in that breed's competition. Sponsorship of the championships was provided by Rolling Hills Farm, Highleigh Farm, Fauquier Farm, Dunrovin Farm, Deer Track Farm, Willingham Farm, Cedar Plains Farm, Potts Creek Farm, Oak Springs Farm, and Ida Light. In the heifer show Champion went to Michelle Pullen of Charlottesville with her Bred-and-Owned yearling. Reserve Champion honors went to Samuel Funkhouser of Edinburg with a June calf. Michelle Pullen showed both champions in the Bred-and-Owned division. Michelle Pullen showed the champion bull, and Hannah Wine of Marshall led the reserve champion. In the Hereford steer category Becky Woycik of Rapidan took the Championship.

The Angus show consisted of 76 cattle, and in the heifer show separate competition was held for Owned and for Bred-and-Owned females. Chelsea Wieben of Leesburg exhibited Champion Bred-and-Owned heifer, and Jonathan Barns of Dolphin took Reserve Champion. In the Owned Heifer division Joey Epperly of Moneta led out the Champion, followed by Linda Harris of Roanoke with the Reserve Champion. Champion Angus steer was shown by Clayton Wieben of Leesburg, with Jesse Clark of Edinburg exhibiting Reserve Champion. Katie Updike of Washington led the Champion Bred-and-Owned bull while the Reserve Champion was an entry by Kelly Stowers of Hamilton.

In the Steer Show 59 cattle were presented. The steers are targeted for various finish times, ranging from early May through early October. Champion steer was a 1026-pound crossbred shown by Cassidy Wieben of Leesburg, and Reserve Champion was another crossbred weighing 980 pounds exhibited by Seth Buckley of Berryville.