Shorthorn Juniors Recognized as BEST Winners
(MARYSVILLE, Ohio) - The 20152016 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) Program wrapped up on May 7 with its annual awards banquet held at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. “The banquet is a time to celebrate the many achievements of our BEST participants, both in and out of the show ring,” says Stephanie Sindel, BEST coordinator. “Each participant is recognized for their hard work by family, friends and BEST supporters alike.” Several representatives from program sponsors, Bob Evans Farms, Burroughs Frazier Farms, Farm Credit MidAmerica, M.H. Eby, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Weaver Livestock, were on hand to help present awards totaling more than $50,000 in belt buckles, furniture, show materials and other awards. This year’s BEST program featured 15 sanctioned shows that weaved its way across the state with 550 youth participants showing 740 head of market animals and heifers. This year, the Champion Shorthorn Heifer belongs to Taylor Morbitzer, Grove City, Ohio in Franklin County. Her January heifer was sired by Eldorado. Andy and Jennifer are Taylor’s proud parents. Reserve Champion Shorthorn Heifer honors went to Jessica Millenbaugh from Crawford County. Jessica’s heifer is a March Red Knight heifer. Jessica’s parents are Jim and Janet Finney. Samantha VanVorhis of Bowling Green in Wood County owns this year’s 3rd Overall Shorthorn Heifer. Her heifer is a SULL Red Reward heifer, calved in February. She is the daughter
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Shorthorn BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) winners were honored at the 2015-2016 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s BEST Banquet on May 7, 2016. Pictured in front row from left are Taylor Morbitzer; Jessica Millenbaugh; Samantha VanVorhis; Cole McLaughlin; Tanner Cordes; Allison Davis; Noah Cox and Victoria Waits, Fayette. Not pictured are Brandee Painter; Emma Mathews, and Reily Jacobs Bell. of Michelle Kranz –VanVorhis. Brandee Painter from Licking County claimed the 4th Overall Shorthorn Heifer honors with her January, Hot Commodity heifer. Brandee is the daughter of Tonya Painter from Hebron. 5th Overall Shorthorn Heifer goes to Cole McLaughlin from Monroe County. Cole’s heifer was sired by SULL Red Blood. Cole is the son of Ed McLaughlin from Woodsfield. This year’s Champion Shorthorn Steer honors went to Emma Mathews from Clinton County. Emma’s steer was sired by Double Vision. Emma is the daughter of Jackie Bickel from New Vienna. Tanner Cordes exhibited the Reserve Champion Shorthorn Steer as well as the Reserve Champion Novice Market Animal, sired by FSF Starburst. Tanner is the son of Bradley Cordes from Farmersville, Ohio in Montgomery County. The Champion ShorthornPlus Heifer was exhibited by Allison Davis from Carroll County. Allison’s heifer is a March Fringe sired heifer. Allison’s parents are Todd and Kim Davis from Carrollton. The Reserve Champion ShorthornPlus Heifer belongs to Reily Jacobs Bell of Zanesville in Muskingum County. Her March heifer is a Red Knight. Matt and Melissa Bell are Reily’s parents.
Noah Cox exhibited the Champion ShorthornPlus Steer this season. Noah is the son of Jeff & Stephanie Cox from Coolville. Noah’s steer is a Believe in Me. Champion Reserve The ShorthornPlus Steer was shown by Victoria Waits of Fayette County. Victoria’s steer is a Man Among Boys. She is the daughter of Kristina Waits of Washington Court House. In the Bred & Owned division, 5th place honors went to Mya Hetrick of Sandusky County. Her Shorthorn heifer is sired by SULL GNCC Asset. Mya is the daughter of Cyle and Shauna from Fremont. The Champion Bred & Owned Steer title went to Wally Minges of Butler County. His Shorthorn steer is sired by Monopoly 2. Wally is the son of Walter & Lori Minges from Oxford. A belt buckle was awarded to these Shorthorn juniors. The case for their belt buckle was sponsored by the Ohio Shorthorn Breeders’ Association. BEST is a youth program of the OCA that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors through a series of shows. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placing at each show. The OCA BEST program promotes educating Ohio’s juniors about the beef industry’s issues successful the rewards and accomplishments and hard work of those junior beef producers. =