BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
The Union County Livestock Association held its annual awards and livestock show March 16-19 at the Union County Agriculture Education Center. The show was held over three days, with the sale taking place on the fourth and final day.
On March 16 participants took part in a Skill-a-thon, competing in several, age specific groups. Later in the day, individuals who had raised pure-bred cattle competed in the Cattle Breed Show, judged by Clint McWaters, with Allison Tremble serving as the Livestock Judging Official. Kody Stalnaker took top honors with the Supreme Overall Heifer and the AOB Grand Champion title. The AOB Reserve Grand Champion title was earned by Walker Thompson, with Railee Steele taking AOB 3rd Overall honors.
In other awards for the Breed Show, Adaleigh Wainwright showed the Commercial Grand Champion heifer, with Walker Thompson’s entry taking the Commercial Reserve Grand Champion award. Railee Steele’s animal was awarded Commercial 3rd Overall heifer honors and she later showed the bull that was judged 3rd Overall as well. Kody Stalnaker took top honors with the Grand Champion bull, with Addisyn Worrell earning the Reserve Champion bull with her entry. Adam Wainwright finished out the breed show awards, with his animal taking the Home Grown Champion Breeder title.
In other awards at the Breed Show, the judging of 4-H record books recognized the work of Jr. Chapter member Erin Andrews in first place and Vivian Hunt taking second. In the 4-H record book judging for the Intermediate Chapter Jacee Box took top honors and Railee Steele took first place in the Sr. Chapter. FFA record books were also judged, with Perry Johnson awarded 1st Place for the Jr. Chapter and Savannah Miller pacing second. First place honors in the Senior Chapter went to Shayna Durrance, with Jamie-Lynn Courson taking second place.
Showmanship awards were judged in three classes. In the Junior Class, Ansley Ward took first place honors, followed by Adaleigh Wainwright placing second and Vivian Hunt placing third. In the Intermediate Class, first place went to Kate Wainwright, with Shayna Durrance placing second and Miley Wilson taking third. In the Senior Class, first place went to Railee Steele, with Addison Wright placing second and Chase Roberts in third place.
At the Steer Show, on March 18, Grand Champion Steer honors were earned by Graysen Willis with Kody Stalnaker’s animal taking Reserve Grand Champion honors. The judging was the same in the Home Grown Steer category, with Willis taking the Grand Champion award and Stalnaker taking Reserve Grand Champion honors. Jolene Moore’s animal was judged 3rd Overall. Boone Acres took home the Home Grown Champion Breeder award, while Ava Walker’s entry won the Weight Gain Contest. The Steer Show was judged by Zach Bartenslager.
In other Steer Show awards, Addyson Kelley took first in the 4-H Record Book Junior Class, with Charley Box taking second in that class. Jacee Box took first place in the Intermediate class. In the Junior Chapter Class for FFA Record Books Paislee Jo Stalnaker took first place, with Kendyl Brannen placing second. In the Sr. Chapter Class, Jolene Moore took top honors, with Emily Richards placing second.
In the Showmanship Awards, Addyson Kelley placed first in the Intermediate Class, with Charley Box placing in second. In the Intermediate Class for FFA Jacee Box earned first place, with Graysen Willis taking second and Paislee Jo Stalnaker coming in third. In the Senior Class, Kody Stalnaker took first place, with Perry Johnson placing second and Emily Richards in third.
A total of 54 breed animals and 24 steers made up the cattle portion of the livestock show, with the steers bringing an average of $5.42 per pound at the March 19 sale. The sale was preceded by a Buyers Luncheon, sponsored by Nanette’s Wedding & Party Catering & Rentals and was sponsored by Farm Credit. The sale was administered by auctioneer Daniel Jerrels and announcer Benji Bennett.
