Junior Beefmaster Breeders Compete and Give Back to Community

SAN ANTONIO – One hundred and sixty four Junior Beefmaster Breeders Association (JBBA) members and their families traveled to the Brazos County Expo Complex in Bryan, Texas last week for the 29th Annual JBBA National Convention and Heifer Show from July 22 through July 27.

This year’s convention focused on the aspect that JBBA members are not just raising cattle, the association is also teaching future leaders and members are giving back. In an effort to give back, these future leaders gathered nonperishable breakfast items and assembled “tackle boxes” to help “Tackle Childhood Hunger”. The “tackle boxes” were donated to Twin City Mission of Bryan/College Station, Texas and will be enjoyed by children whose family can not afford a nutritious breakfast. Elections for the 2013-2014 JBBA directors and officers were also held; as well as educational sessions, auctions, motivational speakers and a family fun night.

“Besides the exhibition of a great set of Beefmaster cattle by the juniors, this event provides excellent educational and leadership opportunities for members, family and friends,” said Allison Wagner Wells, Junior Program Committee Chairman.

The six day event consisted of several competitions including public speaking, photography, power point presentation, livestock judging, a herdsman quiz, a coloring contest and an always popular autograph contest.

The winners of the public speaking contest are as follows:

• Junior 1^st place – Jacqueline Rand, Tyler, Texas
• Junior 2^nd place – Kayl Tassin, Bush, La.
• Intermediate 1^st place – Reese Tassin, Bush, La.
• Intermediate 2^nd place – Gabby Eskew, Sealy, Texas
• Senior 1^st place – Colton Tobias, Hamshire, Texas
• Senior 2^nd place – Walker Eskew, Sealy, Texas

The winners of the photography contest are as follows:

• Junior 1^st place – Lilly Hettinger, Springtown, Texas
• Junior 2^nd place – Blair Low, Alto, Texas
• Intermediate 1^st place – Braylee Mackie, Lott, Texas
• Intermediate 2^nd place – Austin Roebuck, French Camp, Miss.
• Senior 1^st place – Rebecca Herrera, Azle, Texas
• Senior 2^nd place – Makaela Naumann, Brenham, Texas

The winners of the power point presentation contest are as follows:

• Junior 1^st place – Jacqueline Rand, Tyler, Texas
• Intermediate 1^st place – Lee Ellen Pearman, Alto, Texas
• Intermediate 2^nd place – Foster Hall, Alto, Texas
• Senior 1^st place – Blaine Peters, Robinson, Texas
• Senior 2^nd place – Emily Paris, Azle, Texas

The winners of the livestock judging contest are as follows:

• Junior 1^st place – Gracie Bouchard, Azle, Texas
• Junior 2^nd place – Blair Low, Alto, Texas
• Intermediate 1^st place – Kamry Pearson, Southlake, Texas
• Intermediate 2^nd place – Austin Roebuck, French Camp, Miss.
• Senior 1^st place – Garrett Mink, Scurry, Texas
• Senior 2^nd place – Sage McManus, Lake Charles, La.

The winners of the herdsman quiz contest are as follows:

• Junior 1^st place – Caeden Scherer, Brenham, Texas
• Junior 2^nd place – Kutter Karns, Crystal City, Texas
• Intermediate 1^st place – Reese Tassin, Bush, La.
• Intermediate 2^nd place – Saige Tassin, Bush, La.
• Senior 1^st place – Garrett Mink, Scurry, Texas
• Senior 2^nd place – Michael Buckley, Collins, Miss.

The winners of the coloring contest are as follows:

• Age 6 and younger 1^st place – Creedon Rand, Tyler, Texas
• Age 6 and younger 2^nd place – Abby Peters, Robinson, Texas
• Age 7 and 8 1^st place – Karleigh Murphy, Kilgore, Texas
• Age 7 and 8 2^nd place – Marty Naumann, Brenham, Texas
• Age 9 and older 1^st place – Camrin Byers, Henrietta, Texas
• Age 9 and older 2^nd place – Blair Low, Alto, Texas

The winner of the autograph contest was Foster Hall, Alto, Texas.

The JBBA members also participated in multiple cattle competitions during the six days in Bryan/College Station, Texas; the six day convention hosted seven different shows for members to exhibit their cattle. The seven shows included a showmanship competition, a steer show, a bred and owned heifer show, a haltered bull show, a Beefmaster Advancer heifer show and the JBBA National Heifer Show. The shows had an excellent turnout with 325 Beefmaster heifers, 103 bred and owned Beefmaster heifers, 33 bulls, five Beemaster Advancer heifers and six Beefmaster steers.

The winners of the showmanship competition are as follows:

• Champion Senior Showman – Garrett Mink, Scurry, Texas
• Champion Intermediate Showman – Reagan Emmons, Streetman, Texas
• Champion Junior Showman – Blair Low, Alto, Texas
• Champion Calcutta Showman – Justin Rhodes, Axtell, Texas

The steer show competition consisted of a live animal placing, carcass placing via ultrasound and interview. The top three winners received scholarships. The winners of the steer show are as follows:

• Overall Champion – Trenton Glaser, Rogers, Texas
• Overall Reserve Champion – Nate Compton, Bellville, Texas
• Third Overall – Mabree Haliburton, Waco, Texas

The winners of the Beefmaster Advancer heifer show are as follows:

• Champion – Mink’s Black Betty exhibited by Garrett Mink, Scurry, Texas
• Reserve Champion – Tyra’s Heidi exhibited by Kalli Ellis, La Ward, Texas

The winners of the haltered bull show are as follows:

• Calf Champion – BR Jackson exhibited by Michael Buckley, Collins, Miss.
• Junior Champion – Mr. Steel exhibited by Blair Low, Alto, Texas
• Yearling Champion – Ellis Hollywood exhibited by Kalli Ellis, La Ward, Texas
• Grand Champion – Ellis Hollywood exhibited by Kalli Ellis, La Ward, Texas
• Reserve Grand Champion – WR Joseph exhibited by Shawn Skaggs, De Leon, Texas

The winners of the bred and owned heifer show are as follows:

• Grand Champion – Jackie O’s Caroline exhibited by Kalli Ellis, La Ward, Texas
• Reserve Grand Champion – BR Savanna exhibited by Michael Buckley, Collins, Miss.

The winners of the JBBA National Heifer Show are as follows:

• Calf Champion – Hoo’s Angel’s Annabell exhibited by Timber Wright, Chester, Texas
• Junior Champion – Spice exhibited by Rebecca Small, Colleyville, Texas
• Senior Champion – Mink’s Macy exhibited by Garrett Mink, Scurry, Texas
• Champion Pair – Miss Priss exhibited by Blair Low, Alto, Texas
• Grand Champion – Miss Priss exhibited by Blair Low, Alto, Texas
• Reserve Grand Champion – Jackie O’s Caroline exhibited by Kalli Ellis, La Ward, Texas

After the heifer show was complete, JBBA members along with their families enjoyed the awards banquet and dance. All winners were announced from the week long contests and events. Overall awards were given to a JBBA member in each age division, which was determined from points earned throughout the week.

The overall awards were presented to the following JBBA members:

• Overall Junior – Caeden Scherer, Brenham, Texas
• Overall Intermediate – Reese Tassin, Bush, La.
• Overall Senior – Garrett Mink, Scurry, Texas

Congratulations to all the JBBA members on a great week and special thanks to everyone for your hard work. The 30^th Annual JBBA National Convention and Heifer Show will be held in Shawnee, Okla., July 21-26, 2014.

For more information about Beefmaster Breeders United and its Junior Program please contact the BBU office at 210-732-3132 or visit www.beefmasters.org. Stay connected to BBU through Facebook, view our videos on YouTube, follow us on Twitter and receive our news updates through joining our mailing list.