Texline Teen Is Overall Top
In Junior Fed Beef Challenge

CANYON — A Texline girl is $2000 richer after winning the 1998 Junior Fed Beef Challenge, sponsored by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association.

Overall champion and top scholarship winner in the Senior Division was Jacqueline Miller of Texline, who won a $2000 scholarship. Joe Garren of DeKalb captured reserve champion overall and a $1500 scholarship, and Pam Mitchell of Memphis was first runner-up, winning a $1000 scholarship.

The overall winners are determined by combining scores in four areas — written exam, oral interview, record book, and carcass performance of the steers. A $500 cash award is given to the first place winner in each area and plaques are awarded to second and third. In addition, each student who enters steers in the contest earns premium money.

"If you work hard and do your best, the rewards will come," says Burt Rutherford of TCFA. "That's been one of the foundations upon which the cattle industry has stood, and a work ethic that has served cattlemen well."

Rutherford says the youth who participated in the Junior Fed Beef Challenge learned first-hand how true that statement is as they took home an array of prizes and premiums during the event at West Texas A&M University.

"The TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge is a program that allows students in 4-H or FFA to gain practical experience in the commercial cattle feeding industry by feeding a pen of three steers, then competing on their knowledge of the cattle industry and the performance of their cattle," Rutherford says.

This year, 33 students competed in the Senior Division, six competed in the Junior Division, and six teams matched knowledge in the Team Challenge Division.

In the senior division, Martin Mathis of Yeso, N.M., took first place in the written exam, followed by Cody Lawrence of Dalhart. Tyler Keeling of Hereford and Eric Lasley of Dalhart tied for third. While the written exam tests the student's knowledge of the industry, the oral interview tests their ability to think on their feet and their understanding of the cattle industry. Gerald Pasley of DeKalb took first in the interview, with Pam Mitchell capturing second and Victoria Patton of Roswell, N.M., taking third.

Sandra White of Memphis captured top honors in the record book competition, followed by Dancey Hopping of Memphis in second and Roy McCracken of Stratford in third. In addition, TCFA awards $500 and plaques for the top first-year student in the program. This year, Pam Mitchell was named top rookie, followed by Sandra White and Eric Lasley.

In the individual carcass competition, Jacqueline Miller captured top honors, with Pat Dodson of Texline taking second and Jocelyn Mitchell of Dalhart taking third. The award for top performing pen of three went to Joe Garren, with Roy McCracken taking second and Jacqueline Miller capturing third. In the live evaluation contest, Meredith McGowan of Hereford and Victoria Patton tied for first, with Jacqueline Miller taking second and Pam Mitchell capturing third.

In the Junior Division, youngsters compete in the same four areas, vying for a $100 cash prize for first place and a plaque for second. Heath Barnett of Memphis was named the overall winner.

Cordi Ferguson of Sunray took top honors in the written exam, followed by Nicholas Odom of McLean. In the oral interview competition, Heath Barnett took first with Nicholas Odom taking second. Heath Barnett came back to win top honors for his record book, with Cordi Ferguson capturing second.

In the carcass contest, Nicholas Odom captured best individual carcass, followed by Clint Hopping of Memphis in second. Nicholas Odom also won the best pen of three title, with Will Hughes of Friona nabbing second. Clint Hopping won the live evaluation contest and Will Hughes took second. Hughes also captured top rookie honors.

Students also competed in the Team Challenge, where a team of two or three competes in the written exam and live evaluation.

The top overall team hailed from Hereford and was made of Chad Christie, Jerad Johnson and Justin Johnson. This team also captured first place in the written exam. Second place overall went to a team from Hooker, Okla., made up of Randy Brown, Neal Hofferber and Ryan Humble. This team captured second place written exam and second place live evaluation. A Hooker, Okla., team came back to win third place overall. The team was comprised of Casey Adams and Jake Arnold, who also captured top honors in the live evaluation contest. Third place written exam went to a Hooker, Okla., team made up of Lee Epperly, Lance Harrison and Kirby James. Third place live evaluation went to another Hooker team of Colby Campbell and Nick Huxman.