KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kirbie Day, Waxahachie, Texas, topped the 280-head horned owned heifer show at the 10th annual VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo in Tulsa, Okla., July 11. The champion, KLD BR Carol Neon D85 ET, is bred-and-owned by Day. Reserve champion was H Poetic Justice 8042, shown by Karlee Osborne, Sheridan, Ill.
More than 640 Hereford youth from 38 states and Canada exhibited 1,132 entries including 90 steers, 57 bred-and-owned bulls, 32 cow-calf pairs, three junior AI heifers, 219 bred-and-owned heifers, 207 horned heifers and 524 polled owned heifers. The event also included 22-skill based contests and youth were awarded more than $15,000 in scholarship money.
Judge Scott Schaake, Westmoreland, Kan., first selected Day’s heifer as division IV champion. She is an April 2008 daughter of GH Neon 17N. She showed with expected progeny differences (EPDs) of birth weight (BW) 3.7; weaning weight (WW) 59; yearling weight (YW) 101; milk (MM) 10 and milk & growth (M&G) 40.
Osborne’s reserve champion overall and division IV heifer is also an April yearling. She’s by TH JWR SOP 16G 57G Tundra 63N and was bred by National Junior Hereford Association member Kari Brumley, Orovada, Nev. Her EPDs read BW 4.4; WW 57; YW 95; MM 15 and M&G 44.
Following the champion selections on Saturday, Kandi Knippa, Seguin, Texas, was named the junior premier breeder and junior premier exhibitor. Adult premier breeder honors went to Star Lake Cattle Ranch, Skiatook, Okla., and Kasey Herman, Skiatook, Okla., won top breeder group of three. Winning the female get-of-sire award was a group by Remitall Online 122L. Oklahoma juniors took the top state group of five honors.
Additional results
-Division I champion: Emily Credeur, Winnie, Texas, with GKB S&S 146 Ida Kay B919 by DM BR L1 Domino 146.
-Division I reserve champion: Nicholas and Kay Ann Eck, Putnam, Okla., with SG Miss Wild Cat W100 by MSU TCF Manager 16M.
-Division II champion: Rylee Barber, Channing, Texas, with BR Taylor 8170 ET by DM BR Sooner.
-Division II reserve champion: Kati Fehlman, Junction City, Kan., with BR Corinna 8175 ET by BR Moler ET.
-Division III champion: Clayton Schmitt, Ulysses, Neb., with H Cattle Kate 8045 ET by GO Excel L18.
-Division III reserve champion: Sarah Stream, Chariton, Iowa, with STRM Sparkle 143U ET by DB Grand Slam.
-Division V champion: Ben, Brooke and Brady Jensen, Courtland, Kan., with BCC Maria 836 by BCC Mario 646.
-Division V reserve champion: Austin Bauer, Bonfield, Ill., with DeLHawk H Rumor 811 ET by GO Excel L18.
-Division VI champion: Kati Fehlman with BR Marie Lavoe 7159 by BR Lansing 3060.
-Division VI reserve champion: Mallorie Phelps, Grandview, Texas, with GKB 146 Tribecca 7107 by DM BR L1 Domino 146.
The 2009 VitaFerm Junior National Hereford Expo was sponsored in part by Biozyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The NJHA is one of the most active junior programs in the country with approximately 3,000 members. The NJHA’s mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit www.jrhereford.org.