Upstream Ranch makes history at 100th NWSS Hereford show

History was written at the 100th National Western Stock Show Hereford show as Upstream Ranch, Taylor, Neb., and TJ Cattle Co., Hardin, Mont., showed the Supreme Champion Hereford, UPS Odyssey 1 ET. Making the win even more memorable for Upstream Ranch was when UPS Kootenay 3228 1 ET followed closely in his full brother's footsteps to be named reserve national Hereford bull in the 165-head horned show on Jan. 13 and 14 in Denver.

Husband and wife duo, Kevin and Sheila Jensen, Courtland, Kan., evaluated 386 horned and polled entries throughout the two-day show, which was up 25 head for the centennial celebration compared to 2005.

This is a historic win for Upstream Ranch as the full brothers have shared the senior division and national champion and reserve titles at the 2005 American Royal and 2005 Western Nugget prior to the big win on the 100th anniversary of the National Western. Odyssey has a long list of wins including reserve national champion at the 2005 National Western and champion at the 2005 Junior National Hereford Expo.

Odyssey and Kootenay 3228 are sired by the popular Remitall Kootenay 9K and showed with EPDs of birth weight (BW) 5.5; weaning weight (WW) 50; yearling weight (YW) 88; milk (MM) 15; and milk and growth (M&G) 40. Hallbauer Farms, Carlinville, Ill., co-own the reserve national champion bull. On show day Odyssey weighed 2,490 lb. and calculated a weight per day of age (WDA) of 2.94 lb. Prior to the show he scanned .53" of backfat (BF) and a 20.5" rib eye area (REA). Kootenay 3228 weighed 2,270 lb. and had a WDA of 2.67 lb. The reserve bull scanned .55" BF and had a 20.7" REA.

Upstream's winning didn't stop with the Supreme Champion Hereford. They showed the best six head and were awarded premier exhibitor with the national champion bulls and division winners in their show string. In a special presentation during the bull championship drive, Upstream's herdsman, Cody Helms, was selected by his peers as the 2006 Hereford Herdsman of the Year.

In the heifer show it was the spring heifer calves that left a lasting impression on the judges. From the first class of the day, BR Gabrielle 5082, caught their eye and went on to win the horned spring heifer calf division and the national champion female title. The May heifer calf was bred and exhibited by Barber Ranch, Channing, Texas. She is a BR Lansing 3060 daughter and showed with EPDs of BW 3.2; WW 47; YW 82; MM 12; and M&G 36.

Following Gabrielle in the spring calf division and also for the reserve overall champion title was Colyer Herefords, Bruneau, Idaho, and Coyote Creek Land and Cattle Co., Savoy, Texas, with C 212 MS Dom 5202 ET. The March heifer calf sired by CL 1 Domino 212M posted EPDs of BW 3.5; WW 47; YW 85; MM 24; M&G 48.

Colyer Herefords won premier breeder honors after breeding the reserve heifer and numerous division winners in the horned show. Mrnak Herefords West, Gardnerville, Nev., exhibited the champion get of sire with a group by MH Dakota 0230.

In the 38-head junior show Kyle Gillooly, Wadley, Ga., evaluated the offering from the young Hereford breeders on Jan. 12. Elizabeth Rosson, Milford, Texas, exhibited the champion female. C Ms Game Plan 4007 ET by C Game Plan 2040 went on to be selected reserve yearling in the open show the following day. Gillooly selected the champion junior heifer calf, RMP P606 BB 501, as reserve heifer in the junior show. The PW Victor Boomer P606 daughter was exhibited by Amanda and Kara Eschbach, Skiatook, Okla., and was bred by Robert and Marilyn Prince, Poseyville, Ind.

To view complete Hereford results of the 100th National Western Stock Show Hereford show visit www.hereford.org and click on shows.

Date: 2/20/06