Youth from across the state earned cash premiums and scholarships while competing in the 84th Kansas Junior Livestock Show sponsored by Cargill. During the state’s largest youth livestock show, held Sept. 30 through Oct. 2 in Hutchinson, 702 4-H and FFA members from 88 counties exhibited a record 1,515 head of livestock.
A 1,357 lb. crossbred shown by Cooper Henson of Holcomb bested a field of 111 head to earn grand champion honors in the steer show, sponsored by Merck Animal Health. Pre-determined cash premiums were awarded to the top five animals in both market and breeding shows for all four species. Henson received a $4,000 premium for his steer. The reserve grand champion steer, shown by Jacob Nikkel of McPherson, was a 1,304 lb. crossbred that earned a $2,000 premium. Third overall, worth $1,000, went to the champion Chianina steer owned by Ava Jane Combs from Buhler. For the second consecutive year, Gabryelle Gilliam of Washington earned $750 showing the fourth overall steer, which was the champion Maine-Anjou. Fifth went to the champion Hereford steer owned by Wesley Denton of Blue Rapids. Denton earned $500 for his steer.
Madison Ratliff of Westphalia led a Limousin female to supreme champion honors in the breeding heifer show, sponsored by Merck Animal Health. Ratliff was awarded a $1,000 premium. Reserve supreme champion, worth $750, went to a commercial heifer exhibited by Jacob Nikkel from McPherson. There were 233 heifers entered in the show. Third overall, which earned $500, went to the champion Simmental heifer shown by Madison Loschke from Kingsdown. Maycee Ratliff of Westphalia led the fourth overall heifer, which was the champion MaineTainer and earned $400. Fifth overall, worth $300, was the champion Hereford heifer exhibited by Jaylyn Davis of Maple Hill.
Taylor Nikkel of Maple Hill took the champion senior cattle showmanship title. Reserve champion was claimed by Madison Loschke from Kingsdown. In the junior cattle showmanship division, Ashley Ward from Paola was the champion, while Thade Combs of Buhler claimed reserve. Ag Choice/MFA sponsored beef showmanship.
Chisum Grund of Wallace guided his 290 lb. Yorkshire to the grand champion market hog title, which earned him $2,000. A 256 lb. dark crossbred owned by Tate Anderson from Baldwin City was reserve grand champion hog of the 171-head show, sponsored by Seaboard Foods. Anderson’s hog garnered $1,500. Third overall, worth $1,000, went to Chloe Reiss of Weskan, with her reserve champion dark crossbred. Jack Gilliam of Washington owned the champion light crossbred that placed fourth overall and earned $750. Fifth overall, earning a $500 premium, was the reserve champion Yorkshire exhibited by Lily Anderson of Caney.
A light AOB owned by James DeRouchey of St. Marys was named supreme champion in the 193-head gilt show, also sponsored by Seaboard Foods. DeRouchey received a $750 premium for his gilt. Ryann Allison of Fort Scott exhibited the reserve supreme, a commercial gilt worth $600. Third overall was the reserve commercial gilt, at $500, owned by Braden Mai from Russell. Fourth overall, which garnered $350, was the champion Duroc gilt shown by Bailey Eck of McPherson. Justin Messner from Caney exhibited the fifth overall gilt, which was the champion Hampshire. It earned a $250 premium.
Gabryelle Gilliam, Washington, took the champion senior swine showmanship title. The reserve champion senior was Chisum Grund of Wallace. In the junior swine showmanship division, Brody Nemecek, Iola, was the champion, with Abi Lillard, Abilene, named reserve champion.
Jillian Keller from Piqua exhibited the grand champion market lamb, a 148 lb. entry from the blackface division that earned a $2,000 premium. The reserve grand champion market lamb, a 140 lb. blackface, was shown by Shilo Schaake, Westmoreland. Schaake’s lamb earned $1,000. Third overall, also from the blackface division, was owned by Dillon McNickle, Mound Valley, and garnered $750. A blackface lamb exhibited by Holly Swearingen of Lawrence was chosen as fourth overall, which brought $500. Kaci Foraker from Burrton exhibited the fifth overall market lamb, also from the blackface division, that earned $400. A total of 264 lambs were shown.
The supreme registered breeding ewe, garnering a $250 premium, was a Dorset shown by Sadie Baird from Clearwater. The reserve supreme champion ewe, a Hampshire, was exhibited by Holly Swearingen from Lawrence. She received a $200 premium for the ewe. Third overall, worth $150, was an AOB ewe owned by Judd Nelson from Soldier. The reserve champion Hampshire shown by Carter Nash of Parsons was chosen as fourth overall and received $100. Fifth, garnering $50, went to the reserve champion Dorset ewe owned by Judd Nelson from Soldier. There were a total of 62 registered breeding ewes shown.
A ewe led by Jerilyn Nelson from Soldier bested 171 to take supreme champion honors in the commercial breeding ewe show. Nelson’s ewe garnered a $500 premium. Owning the reserve supreme, worth $400, was Kaci Foraker from Burrton. The third overall commercial ewe, earning $300, was exhibited by Kaden Ketterl from Sterling. A ewe led by Gabryelle Gilliam of Washington claimed fourth overall and earned $200. Fifth overall was a commercial ewe exhibited by Paulette Hays of Perry, who received a $100 premium.
In the senior sheep showmanship division, Jackson Newby of Coffeyville was named champion. Taking reserve was Becca Paine from Hutchinson. Jillian Keller of Piqua won the junior sheep showmanship division. Hannah Dechant of Goodland took home reserve honors.
Kristin Floyd from Kingman received grand champion honors and a $2,000 premium for her 88 lb. entry in the meat goat show. A total of 189 head showed. Erin Falkenstien, Oswego, showed the reserve grand champion meat goat, which weighed 89 lbs. and earned $1,000. Third, worth $750, went to a goat shown by Breckyn Rush of Geneseo. Kristin Floyd from Kingman also showed the fourth place meat goat and earned $500. Fifth overall was an entry from Lisa Geis of Durham that brought $400.
Lisa Geis from Durham also showed the supreme champion commercial doe kid. Her entry bested 118 others to claim the honor and earn $750. Reilly Stewart from Baldwin City exhibited the reserve supreme champion doe, worth $500. Third overall went to an entry from Becca Paine of Hutchinson, which brought $400. Chosen for fourth was a commercial doe owned by Kaci Foraker from Burrton that garnered $300. Fifth overall, worth $200, was shown by Becca Paine from Hutchinson.
In the senior division, champion goat showman honors went to Caitlin Dreher of Iola, with Gabryelle Gilliam from Washington claiming reserve. In the junior division, Luke Falkenstien from Oswego received champion honors, with Brody Nemecek of Iola earning reserve.
KJLS presented $20,500 in scholarships to 12 exhibitors. Anna Behrens of Norwich and Grady Hammer from Wallace each were awarded $2,500. Receiving a $2,000 stipend was Megan Davis of Princeton. Natalie Harris and Riley Sleichter, both of Abilene, each received $1,800. Those earning $1,500 were Cade Harms, Lincolnville; Cale Hinrichsen, Westmoreland; Elizabeth Meyer, Tampa; Joel Nelson, Soldier; and Hadley Schotte, Marysville. Sarah Pelton from Paradise and Hudson Stramel of Winona each were awarded $1,200. Since the inception of the KJLS scholarship program in 1993, a total of 306 exhibitors have been awarded $411,00.
New to KJLS this year was the LEAD Challenge, which was an educational and advocacy event that provided an opportunity for exhibitors to learn about current industry issues. Those in the senior division competed in showmanship, went through an interview process and took a written exam. Juniors competed in showmanship and were interviewed. Those placing first through third in the senior division were Caitlin Dreher, Iola; Cale Hinrichsen, Westmoreland; and Jade Edwards, Hamilton. First through fourth in the junior division were Luke Falkenstien, Oswego; James DeRouchey, St. Marys; Hannah Dechant, Goodland; and Brody Nemecek, Iola.
A team from Kansas State University (KSU) won the senior college competition in the Mid-America Classic Judging Contest, held in conjunction with KJLS. Hutchinson Community College (HCC) won the sophomore division in the junior college contest, with Butler Community College (BCC) finishing second. A team from BCC won the freshman division, while HCC placed second. Riley Lafrenz with KSU was the top scoring senior college individual. He was followed by Joseph Limbach, also from KSU. High individuals in the junior college sophomore contest were P. D. Miller from BCC in first and Cody Boden with HCC in second. Hannah Craun from Fort Scott Community College (FSCC) outscored all other freshmen. The second place freshman was Cameron Kilgore, also from FSCC.
The Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas State University and the Agri-Business Council of Wichita continue to serve as major show sponsors. Cargill was the platinum sponsor of this year’s show. In addition to Merck Animal Health, Seaboard Foods and Ag Choice/MFA, other sponsors included Kansas Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Financial Services, Friends of KJLS, Elanco Animal Health, Syngenta and the Kansas Department of Agriculture. In addition to these groups, volunteers from across the state also help organize and put on the show.
Local winners are: Great Bend: Steele Brack - 1st in class 14 - Meat Goat, 2nd in class 20 - Blackface Market Lamb, 4th in class 3 - Meat Goat, 5th in class 22 - Blackface Market Lamb; Dalton Dicks - 4th in class 6 - Angus Breeding Heifer; Parker Dicks - 5th in class 27 - Simmental Breeding Heifer; Ellinwood: Justyn Shafer - 7th in class 45 - Commercial Breeding Heifer; Katie Shafer - 2nd in class 2 - Meat Goat, 5th in class 23 - Blackface Market Lamb, 6th in class 16 - Crossbred Market Steer, 6th in class 29 - Simmental Pct Breeding Heifer;
Mattie Shafer - 12th in class 16 - Blackface Market Lamb, 4th in class 2 - Meat Goat, 4th in class 26 - Blackface Market Lamb, 9th in class 3 - Meat Goat