2001 Beef Expo Features Outstanding Junior Shows

Livestock Update, June 2001

Mark Wahlberg, Extension Animal Scientist, 4-H Livestock, VA Tech

The 2001 Virginia Beef Expo was held at the Virginia Horse Center at Lexington for the third year. These facilities allowed the entire Beef Expo to be held on Friday and Saturday, April 13-14. The youth cattle shows highlighted the Saturday schedule in which 286 cattle were exhibited, an increase of 40 head from last year. 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.

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. Clay Pruet came in from Danville, Indiana, to judge several of the shows. Clay is finishing a degree at Purdue University. He and his family operate a large swine and cattle operation which is oriented towards producing calves for 4H and FFA members' projects. The second judge was Scott Buchanan, who grew up very near to the Horse Center. Scott completed his degree in Animal Science at Virginia Tech, and now is part of the management team at Whitestone Angus.

Ninety exhibitors competed in beef cattle showmanship, which was divided into 4 separate divisions. Taking the honors in the senior division (25 contestants) was Cassidy Wieben from Leesburg, and Reserve Champion was Seth Buckley from Berryville. The intermediate division included 24 competitors, and taking the championship was Kathryn Taylor of Warren County. Reserve Championship was won by Chelsea Wieben of Leesburg. Twenty-six junior division contestants competed, with the championship going to Mandy Richardson of Louisa County. The Reserve Champion plaque was awarded to Will Earhart of Augusta County. Finally, 15 novices led cattle into the ring. These are members who are in their first year of showing beef cattle, and who are 12 years old or less. Sarah Danner of Loudoun County took the championship, and the reserve championship was won by Lacie Ann Boothe of Pulaski County.

The Virginia Tech Block & Bridle Club was a cosponsor of several competitions, including Commercial Replacement Heifers and the Steer Show. They secured support for these shows, enabling them to provide some very special awards for these competitions. Support for these shows was provided by Virginia Techıs Alpha Gamma Rho Chapter, Land of Promise Farm, and Valley Feed Company.

Thirty-nine Commercial Replacement heifers were shown, ranging from young calves to coming two-year-olds. The Champion was exhibited by Chelsea Wieben of Leesburg, and Reserve Champion was led by Katie Updike of Rappahannock County. Class winners received engraved scotch combs, champion was awarded a set of clippers, and reserve champion was presented an embroidered jacket.

Twenty-two Herefords were shown in that breed's competition. In the heifer show Champion went to Michelle Pullen of Charlottesville with her Bred-and-Owned yearling. Reserve Champion honors went to Rebecca Funkhouser of Edinburg with a January yearling. Michelle Pullen showed both champions in the Bred-and-Owned heifer division, and also in the bred-and-owned bull division. Michelle also showed the champion cow-calf pair, with reserve champion going to Hannah Wine of Fauquier County. In the Hereford steer category Shawn Gordon of Clarke County took the Championship.

In the Shorthorn division there were 21 cattle shown. Stephanie Willis of Greenbrier County took the Championship in the heifer show and Reserve Champion heifer honors went to Josh Wynkoop of Loudoun County. For the third 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 30 cattle were shown. Many Simmental breeders sponsored awards, including Deer Creek Farm, Reasor Simmentals, Mohlers Simmentals, McDonald Farms, Scott Heslep & Family, Locust Point Farm, Stephaven Farm, Figgins Simmentals, Black Ridge Simmentals, Southwest Virginia Black Classic, Bel-Vue Farms, Hounshell Farms, Impact Marketing, Ernie Brook Farm, Churchview Farm, and Trumark Ranch. The Champion heifer was exhibited by Kaitlyn Ambler, and Susanne Potter of Lexington led the Reserve Champion. Kristy Mohler from Rockbridge Baths had Champion Bull, with Courtney Thomas of Washington County at the halter of the Reserve Champion. Kristy also exhibited the champion cow-calf pair, with Payton Doyle of Emporia presenting the Reserve Champion.

The Angus show consisted of 87 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 Mandy Richardson of Louisa took Reserve Champion. In the Owned Heifer division Joey Epperly of Moneta led out the Champion, followed by Ben Woycik of Rapidan with the Reserve Champion. Champion Angus steer was shown by Clayton Wieben of Leesburg, with Timber Peyton of Lovettsville exhibiting Reserve Champion. Mandy Richardson led the Champion Bred-and-Owned bull while the Reserve Champion was an entry by Katie Updike of Washington. The Angus show was generously supported by twenty different farms through donations sold in a benefit auction.

In the Steer Show 87 cattle were presented in a very strong and high-quality show. The steers are targeted for various finish times, ranging from early May through early October. Champion steer was a 1070-pound crossbred shown by Chelsea Wieben of Leesburg, and Reserve Champion was an Angus weighing 955 pounds exhibited by Timber Peyton of Lovettsville.

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