The 2022 Hill Country Youth Commercial Heifer Show & Sale (HCYCHSS) took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, October 18 and 19, involving 89 youth contestants from 27 counties participating in the event. The project numbers are up from 55 entries last year.
Students in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade were divided into 3 age divisions: Senior (9-12), Intermediate (58), and Junior (1-4). There were 3 categories of competition in each age division: Interview, Pen of Cattle, and Record-book.
Ten students from Menard entered this year’s show: Caitlyn Burch, Makenzie Wright, Aminy Anderson, Kallan Wright, Benjamin Burch, Roy Brown, Roy Mews, Gus Wright, Daphne Mews, and O’Dan Wright.
“This project is one that is undoubtedly most practical in terms of its goals. Participants from 27 counties commit and dedicate six months to raise three to five commercial female heifers,” said organizer Micah Walker from Mason. Participants spend those 6 months caring for, and keeping up with health, expenses, breeding, and every other aspect of the commercial cattle industry.
Contestants designate their heifers during the validation process in April, and keep their record-books until the show and sale in October. At the show, hosted by Jordan Cattle Auction of San Saba, contestants demonstrated their proficiency and knowledge of their herd during a - one-on-one interview with a judge. The interviews were weighted at 60% of a contestant’s overall score. Menard’s placing in interview were: Caitlyn Burch, 1st place junior; Aminy Anderson, 2nd place senior; Roy Brown, 4th place senior.
The heifers are judged in the pen as commercial livestock, rather than market or show animals. No grooming or halter-breaking necessary. Ideally, they have consistent desired conformation across the group, and are bred to calve around the same time. The cattle judging accounts for 30% of a contestant’s overall score. Cattle placings for Menard were: Gus Wright, 5th place junior; Roy Brown, 1st place senior.
The last pillar of judging in the contest is the record-book. This book displays photographs and information on the journey in caring for the heifers and preparing them for sale and breeding. Data such as expenses, details on the bull’s pedigree, feeding regimes and more are included in the record-book. The record-books are judged on included information and organization. Record-books account for 10% of an overall score. Recordbook results for Menard were: Caitlyn Burch, 3rd place junior; Roy Mews, 5th place intermediate; Roy Brown, 2nd place senior; Aminy Anderson, 3rd place senior.
At the show and sale in San Saba, the Jordan family and the Jordan Cattle Auction welcomed HCYCHSS contestants and families— and their cattle—on Tuesday for drop-off and general look-over of the bovine entries. A veterinarian checks each heifer for pregnancy and declares how many months bred each animal is. This year the cattle were dropped off at Jordan’s and contestants proceeded on to the Civic Center in San Saba to complete the interview process.
On Wednesday, the event continued with the sale of the heifers. Each contestant’s pen was run through the sale ring in a special replacement female sale.
After the HCYCHSS sale was concluded, awards were announced.
A raffle drawing for 3 sets (3 winners) of 5 exposed heifers was held. Contestants were asked to sell ten raffle tickets each. Tickets for this raffle were $100 each and proceeds went to the scholarship fund for senior contestants. The scholarships this year were the most significant the Board of HCYCHSS has awarded to date. Every graduating contestant received a check— a no-requirement subsidy to aid in their life after high school. Six scholarships were awarded—three for $5,000; and 3 for $10,000, based on how many years the student had participated in this project. Menard’s Anderson and Brown received $10,000 each.
Before a group picture was taken and the event declared a success, one more animal needed to sell—a single heifer to initiate the replenishment of the scholarship fund for next year’s competition. The live bidding commenced, and the winner bidder donated the heifer back to sell again, donating the sales price to the fund. The heifer was bought, donated, and sold many times over, racking up close to $20,000 for the scholarship fund.
Event organizer Micah Walker sums it up: 'This program strives to make a significant impact on you people, so they may go out and significantly impact the world!'
Walker extends a special thanks to Jordan Cattle Auction, Ken Jordan, Jody and Jeffrey Osborn, and all directors.
If your Menard County student is interested in getting involved with the Hill Country Youth Heifer Sale & Show, contact Lisa Brown, Menard County AgriLife Extension Agent, at 325-396-4787.