CATTLEMEN YOUTH AWARDED AT BEST BANQUET FOR A SUCCESSFUL SEASON

The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) Beef Exhibitor Show Total (BEST) program wrapped up the 2022-2023 BEST season on May 6 on the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. Over 350 BEST exhibitors were awarded for their show success, cattle industry knowledge, photography skills, community service efforts and more.

This year’s BEST program featured seven weekends of sanctioned shows that wove their way across the state. Over 700 youth participants showed 1000 head of market animals and heifers throughout the season.

This year’s sponsoring partners were Evans Family Ranch, Ag-Pro Companies, Bob Evans Farms, Diamond T Land and Cattle Co., Dickson Cattle Co., D&E Electric – The Young Family, M.H. EBY, Inc., The Folks Printing, Jones Show Cattle, R.D. Jones Excavating, Ricer Equipment, 6R Farms, Shepard Cattle Company, and Weaver Livestock.

The banquet kicked off with the annual Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) donation. BEST exhibitors raised money earlier in the year through the Celebrity Showdown and collected pop tabs all year. Over 600 pounds of pop tabs were accumulated and this year’s donation total was $33,500. The highest donations were from

HR Cattle Company with $5,030 and Kasen Cole, Preble County with $2,008. Taylor Poff, Geauga County, submitted the most tabs with 220 pounds.

Thanks to the program’s generous sponsors, many door prize giveaways and drawings were held. The hottest drawings were for the BEST trailer, the Buckeye Breeders Series (BBS) trailer (both trailers donated by M.H. EBY) and the John Deere Gator (donated by Ag-Pro). The winners of these prizes receive a full year’s use of the item. The following were this year’s winners:winners: BEST Trailer

Beau Johnson, Gallia County BBS Trailer

Savannah Cecil, Monroe County

BBS Gator

Naomi Fennig, Mercer County

The Novice Division of BEST includes first year participants. All Novice exhibitors were given an entry into their own unique drawing for every animal they showed at each show throughout the season. This year’s prize was a wrapped grooming chute donated by Weaver Leather Livestock. The winner of the grooming chute was Paige Foreman of Lorain County.

For a full list of this year’s winners visit www.ohiocattle.org.

The OCA BEST program functions with the strong backing of the BEST Committee. Serving on the BEST Committee are Chairman – Shane Riley, Fayette County; Vice-Chairman – Kim Herman, Allen County; Erin Alava, Hancock County, Drew Baus, Wood County; Ben Dickson, Marion County; Lindsey Hall, Highland County; Sarah Hunker, Huron County; Sally Puzacke, Tuscarawas County; Mckenzie Riley, Fayette County; Amber Shoemaker, Stark County; Linde Sutherly, Clark County; Ryan Sorensen, Montgomery County; Ian VanKirk, Licking County; Trevor Tom, Muskingum County; and Bill Tom, Ohio State Fair Beef Director. During the BEST awards banquet, the new junior representatives for the 2023-2024 season were announced. They are Cheyenne Myers, Stark County; Taylor and Tatumn Poff of Geauga County; and Noah Land of Wood County. Continuing for their second term is Luke Schroeder of Defiance County, Gage Farrar of Jackson County, and Grant Belleville of Wood County. Rachel O’Reilly of Geauga County, Dawson Osborn of Highland County and Payton Shepard of Henry County have fulfilled their commitment as BEST Junior representatives.