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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 25, 2007

KANSAS YOUTH EARN HONORS AT 75TH JUNIOR LIVESTOCK SHOW

        (WICHITA) – The 75th anniversary of the Kansas Junior Livestock Show (KJLS) added to the event’s memorable history with a 20-year high in livestock numbers and stiff competition for auction premiums and scholarships. The show took place September 21-24 in Wichita. A total of 700 Kansas youth exhibited 1,351 head of livestock. The show is sponsored by the Kansas Livestock Association, Kansas State University and the Wichita Chamber of Commerce. 

          A 1,289 lb. crossbred shown by Brooke Bergkamp from  Arlington bested a field of 118 head to earn grand champion steer honors. Bergkamp’s steer was purchased by Cargill Meat Solutions and Carlos O’Kelly’s Mexican Café for $11,711 during the Auction of Champions held at the show’s conclusion. The reserve grand champion steer, exhibited by Drew Herrmann of Dodge City, was a 1,309 lb. crossbred worth $6,230 to Agritek, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Alltech and Kansas Feeds of Dodge City.

          An AOB female owned by Augusta Marston of Canton was judged supreme champion of the 264-head breeding heifer show. A Chianina shown by Brooke Jensen from Courtland was the reserve supreme heifer.

          Champion senior cattle showman was Austin Abeldt of Hope, with Ty Goossen from Hillsboro claiming reserve. Wyatt Schumann of Lecompton earned top junior cattle showmanship honors, while Casey Craver from Gypsum finished as the reserve.

          Trace Mulligan of Scott City guided his 263 lb. Hampshire to the grand champion market hog title. Farm Bureau Financial Services paid $5,280 for Mulligan’s entry during the premium sale. A 276 lb. crossbred owned by Wyatt Schmidt, Tribune, was the reserve grand champion hog of the 360-head show. Greeley County 4-H Boosters placed a bid of $3,160 on Schmidt’s hog.

Whitney Plunkett of Syracuse was named champion senior hog showman, while Quinton Wuthnow of Manchester earned reserve. Caitlin Dreher of Iola claimed the champion junior title. The reserve junior hog showman was Grant Simpson, Columbus.

          Sabetha Young from Howard exhibited the grand champion market lamb, a 140 lb. Hampshire that brought $2,796 from Southwestern Remodeling of Wichita during the Auction of Champions. The reserve grand champion market lamb, a 137 lb. Hampshire worth $2,613 to S.O.W. Corporation, was shown by Alicia Nelssen of Manhattan . A total of 267 lambs was shown at KJLS.

A Suffolk shown by Hoisington’s Macey Dinkel was the supreme champion ewe. The grand champion wether dam was owned by Alicia Nelssen from Manhattan .

          Reagan Kays from Weir won the senior division of the sheep showmanship contest, while Fort Scott’s Cheyenne Wiley was the reserve. Ashlynn Schlochtermeier of Russell claimed champion junior sheep showman honors, with Sabetha Young from Howard capturing reserve.

          Mesa Merrell from Hillsboro won grand champion honors with her entry in the meat goat show. The champion goat, besting 150 others to claim the top prize, weighed 99 lbs. and was worth $1,445 to S.O.W. Corporation. Taylor Stanley from Baldwin showed the reserve champion meat goat, which weighed 99 lbs. First National Bank of Anthony and A&M Plumbing of Wichita placed a final bid of $2,285 on Stanley ’s goat.

          Champion goat showman in the senior division was Haley Melton of Fort Scott , with reserve honors awarded to Cassadie Copeland from Kingsdown. Lindsey Pease of Chetopa earned top junior goat showmanship honors. The reserve junior goat showman was Beth Mercer, Galena.

          Prior to the Auction of Champions, KJLS presented $18,500 in scholarships to 11 exhibitors. Kirsty Maris from Louisburg received a $2,500 scholarship. Kate Bormann of Louisburg and Kyla  Clawson from Satanta both were awarded $2,000 scholarships. Those receiving $1,750 scholarships were: Kelsey Baker, Burden; Kyle Jacobs, Alva, OK; Samantha McGuire, Pratt; and Leslie Schweer, Garden City. Haley Compton from Elk City and Jenna Dennis from Bucyrus both were awarded $1,500. Exhibitors earning $1,000 stipends were Kaylee Simon of Dodge City and Kristin Willhite from Leon.  

          The Mid America Classic Judging Contest was held in conjunction with KJLS. The senior college contest was won by a K-State team. K-State’s Brigham Stewart was the top scoring senior college individual.

In the sophomore division of the junior college contest, Butler Community College (BCC) placed first. BCC’s Maria Stevens was the high scoring individual. A team from BCC also topped the junior college freshman team competition. Garrett Knebel from BCC ranked at the top of the freshman contest.

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