Texas

If knowledge equals power, then the young cattlemen competing in this year's TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge came away with a stout start on their future. Sponsored by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), the Junior Fed Beef Challenge allows 4-H and FFA students to gain practical experience in commercial cattle feeding. Students from Cattle Feeding Country of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico feed a pen of three steers, then compete on their knowledge and cattle performance for prizes, premiums and college scholarships. The contest features a Team Challenge as well, where students who don't feed cattle can compete on their cattle feeding knowledge.

Senior Division Results

Overall champion and top scholarship winner in the senior division was Taylor White of Dalhart, who won a $2,000 college scholarship. Judd Gardner of Estancia, N.M. captured reserve champion overall and a $1,500 scholarship. Pete Dahl of Texoma, Okla. won first runner up and a $1,000 college scholarship.

The top three winners are determined by combining scores in four areas--written exam, interview, record book and carcass performance of their steers. A plaque and $500 cash is given to first place winners in each area and plaques go to second and third. In addition, each student who enters steers in the contest earns premium money plus the proceeds from the sale of the cattle.

In the written exam, Taylor White took first with second going to Gardner and third to Tammo Mellema of Dalhart. While the written exam tests the student's knowledge of the industry, the interview before a panel of judges tests their ability to think on their feet. Matt Mellema of Dalhart captured first place, with Taylor White taking second and Gardner claiming third.

Sydney White of Dalhart, in partnership with brother Taylor, won first place in the record book competition, the partnership of Tammo and Matt Mellema took second and Gardner captured third.

In individual carcass competition, a three-way tie for first place showed that the students learned their lessons well on how to care for cattle. Gardner, the brother-sister duo of Taylor White and Sydney White and Evan McMordie of McLean split the award. Pete Dahl captured second place and the partnership of Robert Douglas and Ricky Vincent of Boys Ranch took home third place. The award for top pen of three carcasses was captured by Sydney and Taylor White, with Gardner and Dahl splitting second and Douglas and Vincent taking third.

In addition, TCFA awards $500 and plaques to the top first-year students in the competition. This year, Judd Gardner was named top rookie, followed by Ricky Vincent in second and Evan McMordie in third.

Junior Division Results

The White family of Dalhart took home the hardware, as Chelsea White was named overall winner in the Junior Division. In the Junior Division, youngsters compete in the same four areas, vying for a plaque and $100 cash prize for first and a plaque for second.

Kayle Jesko of Muleshoe took top honors in the written exam, followed by Khaki Scrivner of Turkey in second. Chelsea White came back to capture the oral presentation category, followed by Mitchell Mellema of Dalhart in second.

Best record book honors went to Chelsea White, with Mitchell Mellema winning second. Chelsea White rounded out her day by capturing the top pen of three carcass award and top individual carcass contest, with the partnership of Ryan Dahl and Scott Thrasher of Texoma, Okla. taking second pen of three and individual carcass.

Khaki Scrivner captured the top rookie award with Kayle Kesko in second.

Team Challenge Results

In the Team Challenge contest, Kristen, Nicholas and Zachary Odom of Wellington won top overall honors. Second place wound up in a tie, with Megan Woytek and Ashley Tieken of Hallettsville and Garrett Smith and Rico Link of Canyon splitting the award and third was won by Leigh Hajek and Laura Muehr of Hallettsville.

In the written exam portion of the contest, the Hallettsville team of Ashley Tieken and Megan Woytek took first, with the Hallettsville duo of Laura Mueher and Leigh Hajek splitting second with Kristen, Nicholas and Zachary Odom. Garrett Smith and Rico Link took home third. The Odom clan came back to capture first place team presentation. Second place went to Smith and Link, and Woytek and Tieken nabbed third.

Date: 9/22/05

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