Youth Shows a Big Part of 2002 Virginia Beef Expo

Three hundred and forty cattle were led through the showring during the Youth Shows at the Virginia Beef Expo at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds on April 19 & 20. Several improvements were conspicuous at the Fairgrounds, especially the new 100 X 100 building on the east side of the grounds. Prior to the Beef Expo the youth shows were held as part of a separate event, called the Junior Beef Roundup, and this year marked the 24th annual Roundup.

The schedule for the weekend called for 2 shows to be held simultaneously, and so two judges were secured to do the honors. Terry McCoy is a graduate of Virginia Tech, and while in graduate school she coached the intercollegiate livestock judging team. She and her husband raise several breeds of cattle in Franklin, West Virginia. Dave Mullins graduated from Virginia Tech last year. Dave grew up in Frederick County, where he was a 4H member who excelled in livestock judging. He continued this activity in college. Dave is currently working as herdsman at Oakdale Farm in Upperville.

Terry came up first to sort through the steers on Friday night. There were 13 classes and a total of 106 steers shown. Champion was a 1020-pound crossbred exhibited by Josh Wynkoop of Purcellville. The Reserve Champion, weighing 1080 pounds, was led by John Funkhouser of Mt. Jackson. A show box and embroidered fleece were awarded to these champions, along with engraved scotch combs for the class winners. Sponsors for these awards were Elaine Colley, Middlebrook Livestock 4H Club, Land of Promise Farms, and Thomas A Carper.

Four separate divisions of showmanship competition were held. The oldest exhibitors comprised the senior division, of which there were 34 contestants. Champion was Chelsea Weiben of Leesburg, and Kathryn Taylor of Front Royal was Reserve Champion. The intermediate division included 26 members who are 14 and 15 years old. Champion showman was Timber Peyton of Loudoun County, with Madeline Lickey, also of Loudoun County, taking the Reserve Championship. In the junior division were members 9-13 years old. Twenty-three contestants competed for the Championship, which was awarded to Josh Wynkoop of Purcellville. The Reserve Champion plaque was taken by Sarah Danner, a Loudoun County 4H member. First-year members who were not over 12 years old were in the Novice division. The Champion, from among the 10 who competed, was Tyler Renner of Frederick County. Jessica Bramhall, of Loudoun County, took the Reserve Champion honors.

The Simmental show included 24 high-quality cattle. Sponsors of awards in this show included Bel-Vue Farm, Deer Creek Farm, Doyle & Doyle Farm, Ernie-Brooke Simmentals, Figgins Simmentals, Harmony Farm, Hounshell Farms, Jess-A-Marr Farms, Knight Cattle Corporation, Locust Point Farm Inc., McDonald Farms, Mohlers Simmentals, Prime Time Production Sale, Reasor Simmental and Livestock Service, Stephaven Farm, Tru-Mark Ranch, and Virginia Simmental Association.

The Champion Simmental heifer was a February yearling led by Jessica Walters of Wytheville, with B J Boothe of Dublin receiving Reserve Champion honors with her March heifer. Bulls bred and owned by the exhibitors were also shown, and B J Boothe had the Champion with Payton Doyle of Emporia leading the Reserve Champion.

In the Hereford show there were 29 cattle exhibited. Amanda Giles of Toms Brook brought in the Champion heifer, an April yearling from Class 4. The Reserve Champion overall was also the Champion bred-and-owned heifer, a senior yearling exhibited by Michelle Pullen of Charlottesville. Michelle also had both champions in the bull show.

The Shorthorn show featured 48 cattle. Sponsors for awards in the Shorthorn show included McCann's Bellevue Farm, R-Bar Inc., Oak Ridge Shorthorns, Heizer Shorthorns, Whiskey Creek Shorthorns, Rocky Acre Shorthorns, Rocky Hill Farm, Twin Creek Farm, Roanland Ridge Farm, John V. Pratt, DVM, and Marston Shorthorns. Amanda Marston of Edinburg received the award for Champion heifer, a May yearling. Jacklyn Butler led her March yearling to the Reserve Championship. Several excellent quality steers were presented during this show, and Bradley Bennett of Weyers Cave had the Champion, followed in Reserve Champion with Josh Wynkoop of Purcellville.

Although the Red Angus show included just 7 cattle, the quality ran deep. Amber Boyles led her March yearling to the Championship. The Reserve Champion award went to another March yearling, exhibited by Joanna Stewart.

The Angus Association conducted the largest breed show, encompassing 77 head. Chelsea Weiben and Timber Peyton, both of Loudoun County, showed the Champion and Reserve Champion, respectively. The bred-and-owned heifer division featured 10 heifers, and the championship was awarded to Trey Gum of Frederick County, followed in Reserve Champion with Chelsea Weiben of Leesburg. A strong group of 49 owned heifers was shown by the Virginia junior Angus members, with Chelsea Weiben taking Champion heifer honors and Joey Epperly of Moneta receiving the Reserve Champion award.

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