Ohioans excel at 2024 National Junior Shorthorn Show in the Team Fitting Contest
Junior Shorthorn enthusiasts gathering from 29 states competed in the 2024 National Junior Shorthorn Show & Youth Conference in Timonium, Md., June 15-22. Not only did the juniors compete with their animals, but had the opportunity to compete in multiple individual, team or state contests.
One of the contests most looked forward to and popular is the Team Fitting Contest. The contest allows teams to showcase their talents and abilities to fit and trimmed to present an animal, using teamwork, their own techniques and processes, with a 20-minute time limit.
Judging criteria is based on both fitting techniques, teamwork and end presentation. The contest includes three age divisions, with an adult supervisor for each team in the prospector division.
Executive Secretary/CEO of the American Shorthorn Association, Montie Soules, explained in an interview that, “The National Junior Shorthorn Show and Youth Conference is every bit as much about the contests and the educational aspect from that as it is the cattle show. The youth of this breed pride themselves in participating in a number of contests. This provides leadership and communication skills for those junior exhibitors that will advance them in their lifelong goals. One of the things that I am most proud of about this event is the high participation percentage that we have in our contests. Our junior board and staff have made it a point to try and provide new and updated contests that challenge the junior members with the technology available in today’s world. This prepares Shorthorn youth for their future.”
Receiving top honors in the Prospector age division (age 12 and under) were:
• Braylen Schaeffer, Piper Cates, Weston Ward and Kase Knepp of Indiana.
• Kinlynn Dryer, Wyatt Dryer, Knox Rutledge and Maddox Reedy of Illinois.
• Bristol Bates (Muskingum County), Garrett Suphten (no town listed), Keston Porter (Norwich) and Wyatt Luallen (Muskingum County) of Ohio.
• Adalynn Vaughn, Alden Vaughn, Autumn Berg and Hadley McDonald of Iowa.
• Colbie Six, Brylee Simpson, Rylee Maurer and Iva Mummert of Pennsylvania.
Intermediate age division, (13 – 16 years) were:
• Cooper Hetrick (Fremont), Kolten GreenHorn (Greene County) and Ashton Simpson (Highland County) of Ohio and Callie Turner of Illinois.
• Josie Heter of Kansas, Aubrey Youse of Missouri, Landry Timm of Iowa and Helen Spears of Oklahoma.
• Ben Allen, Keegan McGrew and Grady McGrew of Pennsylvania and Kolt Henley of Maryland.
• Brooke Buckler, Raelynn Wagner, Aubrey Short and Addy Wagner of Maryland.
• Sheridan Soules and Jace Parker of Oklahoma, Beth Wells of Texas and Alexa Turner of Illinois.
Senior age division, (17 -21 years) were:
• Abby Bratcher and Hailey Jester of Indiana, Kessler Collins of Illinois and Hayden Fox of Iowa.
• James Cleere, Brayden Deborde, Mackenlee Evans and Wyatt Smith of Texas.
• Ashton Bain (Lynchburg), Tatumn Poff (Chardon), Alyssa Carter (Oregonia) and Joshua Blakeman (Jackson County) of Ohio
• Peyton Zepp, Ryan Leister and Kylee Dameron of Maryland and Amanda Annett (Knox County) of Ohio.
• Alyssa Slimmer, Cassidy Sill and Quinna Molden of Maryland and Benjamin Archer of Pennsylvania.
The American Shorthorn Association provides quality service and support to its members by promoting the value of Shorthorn Cattle in all aspects of the beef industry, while maintaining the integrity of the herd book and performance database. The American Junior Shorthorn Association promotes personal development through youth activities and educational events, while being dedicated to the betterment of its members. To learn more, contact the ASA office or visit www.shorthorn.org or www.juniorshorthorn.com.
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