Making the grade at NJAS

Hundreds of quality Angus cattle went through the showring during the 2012 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) in Louisville, Ky. But the steers entered into the carcass contest never made a trip across the shavings. Instead, the animals were judged after processing, giving juniors a chance to analyze carcass data and learn about the end product of the industry—beef.

“It’s a great contest, because it allows us to showcase our knowledge of the entire beef industry process, from live animal to the product,” says Tyler Ottensmeier, McLouth, Kan.

After arriving at the NJAS, exhibitors weighed their steers and sent them to an area processing plant. The animals were ranked according to carcass merit, and the top steers were announced as part of the NJAS award ceremony July 20.

This year, Laramie Chaffin, Roodhouse, Ill., won Champion Carcass Steer. Her steer had a 3.3 yield grade, and a low-prime quality grade. Caroline Cowles, Rockfield, Ky., had the Reserve Champion Carcass Steer. In the Bred-and-Owned Carcass Steer division, Cortney Bromenshenk, Billings, Mont., had the Champion; and Hannah Wright, Spring City, Tenn., had the Reserve Champion.

Blaine Clowser, Milford, Neb., values the lessons the contest taught his daughters:  “Through this contest, my girls learn how we provide safe, wholesome beef to consumers. It shows how well we are breeding, feeding and handling our animals with objective data.”

In the State Group division, the team from Missouri won overall.  Team members were Austin and Chase Thummel, Sheridan, Mo. In second was the Kansas 1 team, and members were:  Luke Sankey, Andale, Kan.; Tyler Ottensmeier, McLouth, Kan.; and Hannah McCabe, Elk City, Kan.

Additional NJAS contest placings, awards and scholarships can be found on www.angus.org. Coverage is also available on the NJAA Facebook page, including videos, show results and photos.  Backdrop and candid photos are available for purchase online. Also, tune into a special NJAS episode of The Angus Report on Monday, Aug. 6 at 7:30 a.m. (central) on RFD-TV.

The American Angus Association is the nation’s largest beef organization, serving more than 30,000 members across the United States and Canada. It provides programs and services to farmers, ranchers and others who rely on the power of Angus to produce quality genetics for the beef industry and quality beef for consumers.

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