For Immediate Release                                                                                                                August 21, 2003
Contact: Burt Rutherford

TCFA NAMES WINNERS IN JUNIOR FED BEEF CHALLENGE

Hard work, it has been said, is its own reward.  But when you combine the ethic of hard work with a learning experience, the rewards are impressive indeed.

That's what the young people who competed in the 2003 TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge learned.  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 throughout Cattle Feeding Country of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico fed a pen of three steers, then competed on their knowledge and cattle performance.

The contest also features a Team Challenge, 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 Kathryn Wright of Menard, who won a $2,000 college scholarship.  Justin Johnson of Hereford captured reserve champion overall and a $1,500 scholarship and Ashley Schmidt of Hallettsville was first runner up, winning a $1,000 scholarship. 

The overall 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 carcasses. 

In the written exam, Ashley Schmidt took first, Kathryn Wright placed second and Christian Schroeder of Taylor won third.  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.  Kathryn Wright captured first place, with Christian Schroeder taking second and Andrew Varley of Sheridan in third.  

Kutter Anderson of McLean captured first place in the record book competition, while Garrett Smith of Canyon took second and Ross Anderson of Menard took third.  Willy Wright of Menard took first place in the video evaluation category, followed by sister Kathryn in second and Clay Cooper of Matador in third.  

In individual carcass competition, Matt Mellema of Dalhart, in partnership with brothers Mitchell and Tammo, tied for first place with Clint Cooper of Matador.  Second place went to the partnership of Clint, Dancey and Tate Hopping of Memphis and Taylor White of Dalhart and Christian Schroeder tied for third.  The award for top pen of three carcasses was captured by Christian Schroeder, with the Hopping partnership taking second and the partnership of Derek and Katelyn Blain of Texhoma, Okla. in third.  

In addition, TCFA awards $500 and plaques to the top first-year students in the competition.  This year, Ashley Schmidt was named top rookie, followed by Marsha Broeschke of Burton and Christian Schroeder, who tied for second, and Andrew Varley in third. 

Junior Division Results

Sidney White of Dalhart was the 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.

Hank Messer of Canyon took top honors in the written exam, followed by Matt Freeman of Texhoma, Okla. in second.  Victoria Messer of Canyon captured the interview competition, followed by Tammo Mellema of Dalhart in second.        

Best record book honors went to Chase Bohlar of McLean , with the Mellema partnership winning second.  Tammo Mellema won first place in the video evaluation, followed by Chelsea White of Dalhart in second.  

The top pen of three carcass award was won by the partnership of Sidney and Chelsea White, with the Hopping partnership winning second.  Top individual carcass went to the Mellema partnership, with the Hopping crew capturing second. 

Top rookie honors stayed in the family, with Sidney White taking first and Chelsea White taking second. 

Team Challenge Results

In the Team Challenge contest, Trent Cadra, Kristen Odom and Nicholas Odom of McLean won top overall honors.  Second place overall went to Stephen Tobola and Brian Jalufka of Halletsville and third place overall was captured by Abernie Adams, Kerry Friesen and Sasha James of Hooker, Okla.      

In the written exam portion of the contest, the Halletsville team of Tobola and Jalufka took first, followed by another team from Halletsville comprised of Ashley Tieken and Megan Waytec in second and Trey Staff and Jacob Engstrom from Rice Consolidated School District in Adair taking third. 

The video evaluation contest saw top honors go the team from Hooker, Okla. followed by the McLean team in second and a team comprised of Eric Jalufka, Lamont Muehr and Wesley Tobola from Halletsville in third.  

 "The future of the beef industry lies in our youth," said Trent Tyson, TCFA special projects assistant and contest coordinator.  "Based on this year's Junior Fed Beef Challenge, our future is in good hands.  These are the best and brightest kids going and they showed they have the intelligence and work ethic to be successful in any endeavor they undertake."  

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