OCA News OCA KICKS OFF BEST SEASON The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) is excited to kick off the 202021 BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) show season with the following sponsoring partners: AgPro Companies and John Deere, Bob Evans Farms, Farm Credit Mid-America, Frazier Farms, M.H. Eby, Inc., Ohio Farm Bureau Federation, D&E Electric – the Young Family, Weaver Leather Livestock, Dickinson Cattle Company, The Folks Printing, Jones Show Cattle and RD Jones Excavating. BEST is a youth development program of OCA that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors for participation and placings through a series of sanctioned cattle shows that include showmanship competitions, educational contests and leadership opportunities. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placings. Points are tabulated for cattle, showmanship, registered Bred & Owned animals and first or second year BEST participants in a separate Novice division for market animals, heifers and showmanship. Additionally, there is a separate points division for cattle bred, born and raised in Ohio – the Buckeye Breeders Series (BBS). BBS will replace the former Best of the Buckeye program and will run throughout the BEST show season with increased recognition opportunities for BBS breeders and exhibitors. BBS breeders will be entered in a drawing to win a year’s use of a John Deere gator, sponsored by AgPro Companies and John Deere, and BBS exhibitors will be entered to win a year’s use of an EBY livestock trailer, sponsored by M.H. EBY. The winners will be drawn at the BEST Awards Banquet in May. All points are tabulated and posted on the association’s website at www. ohiocattle.org. 8 | Ohio Cattleman | Winter Issue 2021
As the BEST program prepares to kick off its’ season, the program’s leadership has kept the focus on maintaining a safe and healthy environment. Masks will be required to be worn in all public areas and social distancing will be in place at all shows. Exhibitors may only be accompanied by immediate family members and spectators will be prohibited. In addition, all exhibitors will be required to sign a one-time agreement as an added COVID safety precaution. More information on the program’s COVID safety plan can be found on the OCA website. Exhibitors must have a $75 family OCA membership to participate in the BEST program or to show at any of the BEST sanctioned shows. A one time $60 per head nomination fee will also be required to be in the BEST program. The 2020-21 OCA BEST Season is as follows: • AGR Alumni Holiday Classic - Circleville, Ohio – December 12-13 • Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown – Springfield, Ohio – January 2-3 • The Weekend Spectacular – Marion, Ohio – January 16-17 • Clark County Cattle Battle – Springfield, Ohio – January 30-31 • DTS Cupid Classic – Springfield, Ohio – February 13-14 • Holmes County Preview – Millersburg, Ohio – March 6-7 • Ohio Beef Expo – Columbus, Ohio – March 19-21 • BEST Awards Banquet – Columbus, Ohio – May 1 The Stockmanship division will be continuing with new competitions for this year. This division of the BEST program provides a pathway for youth to participate in the BEST program without showing an animal. It ex-
pands BEST participants’ knowledge of cattle and provides youth with an opportunity to showcase their abilities and talents outside of the show ring. Registration for the first three Stockmanship competitions will be included with the BEST nomination fee. The last two contests will have additional registration fees. Individuals may sign up for the Stockmanship program at any point throughout the season. Stockmanship participants may sign up for contests on the OCA website. The following are the 2020-21 Stockmanship Contests: • Public Speaking - held at the Scarlet & Gray Midwest Showdown – Saturday, January 2, 2021 • Salesmanship - held at the Weekend Spectacular – Saturday, January 16, 2021 • Fitting Contest - held at the DTS Cupid Classic – Sunday, February 14, 2021 • Judging Contest - held at the Ohio Beef Expo – Friday, March 29, 2021 Along with shows and competitions, the BEST program takes a focus on cultivating an atmosphere of character and leadership. The program’s annual community service efforts and character trait awards help to develop exceptional leaders in and out of the show ring. This year’s community service partner is the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio (RMHC). BEST participants are encouraged to collect pop tabs, volunteer at RMHC and participate in the Celebrity Showdown. The Celebrity Showdown will be hosted Friday, January 30, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. at the Champion’s Center in Springfield in conjunction with the Clark County Cattle Battle. All pop
