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Junior Beefmaster National Show and Convention to be held in Texas

by Joe Mask | Published April 10, 2017

BOERNE, TEXAS – The schedule has been set and young Beefmaster breeders are preparing for the 33rd annual Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association (JBBA) National Convention and Junior Show to be held in Wichita Falls, Texas. The show and convention will take place at the J S Bridwell Agricultural Center from July 16 – 22.

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to compete with their cattle in the E6/Advancer Show, National Heifer Show, National Bull Show, Bred & Owned Heifer Show and Showmanship Contest. Matt Claeys of West Lafayette, Ind., will judge the National Heifer Show. Dr. Dave Nichols of Manhattan, Kan., will serve as the judge for the Bred & Owned Heifer Show, E6/Advancer Show and the National Bull Show. The showmanship contest judge is Jared Givens.

Claeys grew up in Atkinson, Ill., and attended Black Hawk East Community College and the University of Illinois. He was a member of the judging teams at both colleges. After completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Illinois, he earned his master’s at Auburn University and was the judging team coach. Claeys served as Livestock Specialist for North Carolina State University (NC State) and worked on a Ph.D.  After ten years at NC State he moved to Purdue University as the Beef Cattle Specialist and livestock judging team coach. He coached the national champion livestock judging team in 2014 and has judged over 450 shows across the country.

Dr. Nichols advises approximately 100 students at Kansas State University (KSU), teaches courses in live animal and carcass evaluation, introductory animal science, and livestock sales management. Dr. Nichols coached the KSU livestock judging team from 1986 to 1988, winning, among others, the American Royal Contest. Dr. Nichols has judged numerous cattle shows in recent years. He has judged cattle at Houston, Ft. Worth, San Antonio, Louisville, the American Royal and numerous state fairs.

Givens was a member of the 2009 Black Hawk East Community College livestock judging team, he then transferred to Oklahoma State University where he was a member of the 2011 national champion livestock judging team. Since college, Jared has been a collegiate livestock judging coach in Oklahoma. He recently moved back to Tennessee to be near family, where he is a sales representative at a marketing firm. Jared was very competitive as a junior exhibitor, showing cattle at the national level. He now has a small cowherd of his own and consults for many purebred and club calf operations in the Midwest.

The JBBA National Convention not only offers JBBA members a great opportunity to exhibit their cattle, but the junior breeders also participate in new activities and meet new people. A schedule filled with educational and fun activities has been tailored to entertain, educate and provide a great family atmosphere.

Many other contests are available to juniors throughout the week. Juniors can show off their artistic skills in several contests including both photography and PowerPoint contests, which do not require attendance by the junior breeder, and a coloring contest. The 2017 JBBA Convention will also include a leadership conference, a livestock judging contest, an ultrasound carcass contest and a public speaking contest.

All show entries and convention pre-registrations must be received (not post marked) at the JBBA office no later than June 16, 2017. After this date, a late fee will be applied to all animal entries and convention registrations. A full schedule of events and hotel accommodations are all available online at www.beefmasters.org/purebred/juniors.php. The JBBA National Show packet will be posted later this month.

For more information call 210-732-3132 or visit www.beefmasters.org. Stay connected to BBU through Facebook, follow us on Instagram, view our videos on YouTube, and follow us on Twitter. Receive our news updates through joining our mailing list.