(WICHITA) – Owners of the top animals received auction premiums at the 79th Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS), while other exhibitors were presented scholarships. The event, held September 23-26 in Wichita, featured 656 youth from 89 counties showing 1,234 head of livestock.
Logan Drake of Winfield led his 1,288 lb. Charolais steer to grand champion honors. Becky Elder of Valley Center paid $12,842 for Drake’s steer during the Auction of Champions. The reserve grand champion steer, a 1,311 lb. crossbred purchased by Cargill Meat Solutions, sold for $8,142 at auction and was exhibited by Morgan Mobley of Overland Park. A total of 102 steers was exhibited at the show. Garret Smith, Pratt, owned the 1,372 lb. reserve Charolais steer. The reserve crossbred, weighing 1,327 lbs., was shown by Hannah Talkington, Hays. Taylor Dieball of Little River led the champion Angus, weighing 1,305 lbs. A 1,302 lb. entry from Sarah Pelton of Paradise was the reserve Angus. In the Chianina division, a 1,360 lb. steer exhibited by Ryan Goetzmann, Gardner, earned champion honors. Dylan Bair’s 1,408 lb. steer was the reserve Chianina. Bair is from Hutchinson. Shelby Hutchinson of Chapman owned both the champion and reserve Hereford steers, which weighed 1,274 lbs. and 1,353 lbs., respectively. Kelsie Shapland from Ulysses led the 1,250 lb. champion Limousin steer. Reserve went to a 1,352 lb. Limousin entry exhibited by Aubrey Hilt from Louisburg. The champion Maine-Anjou, weighing 1,283 lbs., was shown by Madylien Voboril of Overland Park. Barrett Simon of Leon owned the 1,313 lb. reserve Maine-Anjou. In the Shorthorn division, Kate Hagans’ 1,338 lb. steer earned champion honors. Hagans is from Utica. Jansen Parsons from Anthony owned the 1,346 lb. reserve Shorthorn steer. The champion Simmental weighed 1,251 lbs. and was exhibited by Kate Hagans of Utica. Abigail Dickinson of Gorham owned the 1,362 lb. reserve Simmental steer. The all-other-breeds (AOB) division was topped by a 1,325 lb. steer led by Grace Aust from LaCygne. A 1,311 lb. steer shown by Kacey Rieger from Powhattan received reserve AOB honors.
A Chianina owned by Hannah Talkington of Hays was named supreme champion heifer. Sierra Cargill of Isabel exhibited the reserve supreme champion heifer, a ShorthornPlus. There were 257 heifers shown at KJLS. Reserve in the Chianina division was a heifer exhibited by Kohlton Voboril from Overland Park. Shaelyn Griffin from Stockton led the reserve ShorthornPlus heifer. Grady Dickerson, Paradise, showed the champion Angus heifer. Britt Bair, Hutchinson, exhibited the reserve Angus. In the Charolais division, Ethan Dickerson of Paradise owned the champion heifer, and the reserve was led by Augusta Marston of Canton. Gabrielle Hammer from Wallace showed the winning Gelbvieh heifer. Her sister, Grace, exhibited the reserve Gelbvieh. An entry owned by Taylor Dieball, Little River, was named champion Hereford heifer. Kati Fehlman of Junction City led the reserve Hereford heifer. Randee Corns of Eureka exhibited the champion Limousin heifer, with sister, Ashlee, showing the reserve. Leading the winning Maine-Anjou heifer was Cory Craver from Gypsum, with Madison Loschke from Carbondale owning the reserve. Jake Nikkel of McPherson exhibited the champion MaineTainer heifer, with Cody Hrabe of Stockton leading the reserve. In the Red Angus division, Hunter Lanier from Walton showed both the champion and reserve heifers. The champion Shorthorn heifer was owned by Austin Shideler from Fontana. Following as the reserve Shorthorn was an entry owned by Cody Webb from Pomona. Allyson Ottensmeier, Oskaloosa, led the champion Simmental heifer, and Grady Dickerson, Paradise, showed the reserve. In the AOB division, Reagan Schlochtermeier of Meade showed the winning heifer. Britt Michaelis of Paxico led the reserve AOB heifer. The winning commercial heifer was an entry shown by Caleigh Iwanski from Stockton. A commercial heifer owned by Bryce Shideler from Fontana won reserve.
In the senior division of the cattle showmanship, Kurtis Clawson of Satanta claimed the title of champion. Maci Schlehuber from Hillsboro took reserve. Rounding out the top five, in order of finish, were: Lauren Prill, Wichita; Cory Craver, Gypsum; and Justin Loomis, Council Grove. Jake Nikkel, McPherson, won junior cattle showmanship and Grady Dickerson of Paradise earned reserve champion honors. Following Dickerson, in order of finish, were: Tanner Walden, Tonganoxie; Hadley Schotte, Marysville; and Taylor Nikkel, Maple Hill.
The grand champion barrow was a 278 lb. dark crossbred owned by Ethan Frantz from Hillsboro. His winning entry brought $4,154 at auction from Qualitech, Kansas Feeds, Xtra Factor, Westway, MicroBeef and The Hartford Company. Karlie Stephens of Moran exhibited the reserve grand champion, a 282 lb. light crossbred that was worth $2,257 to Farm Bureau Insurance. A total of 264 market hogs were shown at KJLS. The reserve dark crossbred was guided by Miranda Spencer of Fontana and weighed 273 lbs. Campbell Martin of Bucklin owned the 281 lb. reserve light crossbred. Hayden Cole from Fort Scott presented the champion Duroc, weighing 273 lbs. The reserve Duroc, weighing 280 lbs., was shown by Jonathan Duling from Walnut. In the Hampshire division, a 279 lb. barrow guided by Caitlin Dreher of Iola was named champion. Reserve honors went to a 278 lb. entry from Tristan Davis of Princeton. Caitlin Dreher from Iola also exhibited the 263 lb. champion Yorkshire. Wade Davis of Princeton owned the 281 lb. reserve Yorkshire. In the dark AOB division, Campbell Martin from Bucklin was the owner of the 280 lb. champion barrow. Ethan Frantz from Hillsboro guided the 267 lb. reserve dark AOB. The champion light AOB, weighing 263 lbs., was shown by Megan Davis of Princeton. James DeRouchey of St. Marys exhibited the 287 lb. reserve light AOB.
In the senior swine showmanship, Tristan Davis from Princeton claimed the champion title, with Katelyn Barthol from Wellsville coming in reserve. Rounding out the top five, in order of finish, were Callahan Grund, Wallace; Lauren Geis, Durham; and Samantha Leeds, Council Grove. Caitlin Dreher, Iola, won the junior swine showmanship contest, with Jenna Goetzmann of Gardner earning reserve champion honors. Following Goetzmann, in order of finish, were Brody Nemecek, Iola; Chisum Grund, Wallace; and Gabryelle Gilliam, Washington.
A 153 lb. crossbred shown by Curtis Hewlett from Independence, was named grand champion of the 229-head market lamb show. Hewlett’s entry was purchased by Ted Crist, Schooler Grain, Nutrition Research Services, Southwestern Remodeling of Wichita and Kemin AgriFoods for $3,927. Kylie Naber from Osborne, exhibited the reserve grand champion lamb, a 145 lb. natural-colored entry. Naber sold her entry for $2,889 to the Shane Prill family of Wichita. Katy DeWeese of Americus exhibited the 151 lb. reserve crossbred. The reserve natural lamb, weighing 145 lbs., was shown by Grady Allen of Gardner. A 128 lb. lamb, owned by Macey Langvardt, Chapman, earned champion honors in the Dorset division. Reserve Dorset was awarded to a 120 lb. entry led by Sage Collins, Chanute. Taylor Stanley from Baldwin exhibited the 162 lb. champion Hampshire, with reserve going to a 152 lb. entry owned by Briggs Kerr from Dodge City. The 144 lb. champion in the speckled lamb division was shown by Emily Harris of Abilene. Jordan Moubry of Bunker Hill took reserve with a 140 lb. speckled lamb. The champion Southdown was led by Shelby Smith from Emporia. Her lamb weighed 135 lbs. Elliott Smith of Emporia exhibited the 134 lb. reserve Southdown. The champion Suffolk, weighing 134 lbs., was owned by Kortney Bredemeier from Colby. Kaylee Toews from Leonardville owned the 138 lb. reserve Suffolk. The 132 lb. champion AOB lamb was led by Holly Swearingen of Lawrence. Logan Van Horn of Garfield claimed reserve AOB with his 130 lb. entry.
Elliott Smith from Emporia owned the Southdown entry that bested a field of 44 to receive the supreme registered ewe title. Reserve registered supreme honors went to a Dorset led by Taylor Harrison from Spring Hill. Taylor Goering of McPherson showed the reserve Southdown. The reserve champion Dorset was owned by Allison Smith of Emporia. The champion Hampshire was shown by Holly Swearingen from Lawrence, with reserve going to a ewe owned by Kashli Holthaus from Tribune. Jansyn Van Horn of Garfield exhibited the champion Montadale. The reserve Montadale was led by Katie Schrag of Haven. An entry from Logan Van Horn of Garfield received champion Shropshire honors. Reserve Shropshire was awarded to an entry from Zach Barney of Tampa. In the Suffolk division, Kelli Holthaus of Tribune led the champion ewe for the second consecutive year. Reserve Suffolk was awarded to an entry from Isaac Brunkow of Westmoreland.
The grand champion commercial ewe of the 152-head show was exhibited by Devon Grant from Columbus. Taylor Stanley from Baldwin owned the reserve grand champion commercial ewe. The grand champion yearling commercial ewe was exhibited by Jordan Moubry of Bunker Hill. Mindi Holloway of Yates Center showed the reserve yearling commercial ewe.
In the senior sheep showmanship division, Kylie Naber of Osborne was named champion. Taking reserve was Emily Harris of Abilene. Rounding out the division, in order of finish, were Lindsey Pease, Chetopa; Mindi Holloway, Yates Center; and Macey Dinkel, Abilene. Gabryelle Gilliam of Washington won the junior sheep showmanship division. Anna Long of Olathe claimed reserve. Following the top two winners, in order of finish, were Lindsay Francis, Yates Center; Dakotah McBride, Hooker, OK; and Emma Stewart, Baldwin.
Beth Mercer from Galena received grand champion honors with her meat goat. The champion goat, besting 184 others to claim the top prize, weighed 88 lbs. and was worth $1,806 to S.O.W. Corporation of Wichita. Raylee Faris from Westmoreland led the reserve, which weighed 92 lbs. S.O.W. Corporation placed a final bid of $2,910 on Faris’ goat.
For the second consecutive year, Lindsey Pease from Chetopa won senior meat goat showmanship. Blake Foraker of Burrton was the reserve goat showman. Following Foraker, in order of finish, were Shynia Peterman, Lyons; Amelia Vasko, Scott City; and Julia Wade, Olathe. The junior goat showmanship champion was Allyson Rudd from Bucklin and reserve went to Mattie Shafer from Rozel. Rounding out the top five, in order of finish, were Grant Simpson, Columbus; Rebekah Thomas, Chapman; and Erin Falkenstien, Oswego.
Prior to the Auction of Champions, KJLS awarded $21,500 in scholarships to 11 exhibitors. Those receiving $2,500 awards were: Taylor Harms, Lincolnville; Garrett Kays, Weir; and Logan Van Horn, Garfield. Receiving $2,000 scholarships were Taylor Harrison, Spring Hill; Carlyn Olson, Olsburg; and Evan Woodbury, Quenemo. Randee Corns of Eureka and Wade Davis of Princeton each received $1,750. Emily Beneda from Wilson, Tara Ellerman of Everest and Emily Harris from Abilene each were awarded $1,500 to put toward their educations.
Since the inception of the KJLS scholarship program 18 years ago, 243 exhibitors have been awarded $305,100 for their achievements in academics, community service and 4-H/FFA. Proceeds from the Beefeater Barbecue prior to the Auction of Champions and private contributions are the primary scholarship funding sources.
Teams from 10 states participated in the Mid America Classic Judging Contest held in conjunction with KJLS. A team from Texas A&M University (TAMU) won the senior college competition. Second place went to a team from Texas Tech University. Dustin Frank of Colorado State University was the top scoring senior college individual. He was followed by Ryan Smoes from TAMU.
In the junior college contest, teams from Redlands Junior College (RJC) of El Reno, OK, won both the sophomore and freshman divisions. Teams from Butler Community College (BCC) finished second in both divisions. High individuals in the junior college sophomore contest were Maverick Squires from BCC in first, and Justin Taubenhelm with Colby Community College in second. Gary Agar from RJC outscored all other freshmen. The second place freshman was Kaden Rouch from Allen County Community College.
KJLS is sponsored by the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas State University and the Wichita Agri-Business Council. In addition to these groups, hundreds of other volunteers help put on the show.
