Aaron Fisher, Extension Specialist, Youth Livestock and Equine Programs

A very successful Knoxville Spring Junior Cattle Expo was held at the Tennessee Valley Fairgrounds on April 23-24. The show featured 76 youth exhibitors from 27 counties. This included 22 market steers, 25 commercial heifers and 85 registered heifers. In addition to the individual beef classes, youth competed in showmanship (67 youth) and skillathon (58 youth). The judge for the show was Noah Henson, Area Livestock Agent in Western North Carolina who lives in Canton, North Carolina.
 
Award and general sponsors are included below:
Knoxville Chamber, Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association, UT Animal Science, David and Carolyn Thomas, East TN Angus Association, East TN Polled Hereford Association, Knoxville Livestock Auction Center, Food City, Tennessee Farmers Cooperative, CN Cattle, 3L Cattle

Complete show results can be found on the Animal Science website.

The Grand Champion Market Steer was exhibited by Collin Cook from Robertson County, while the Reserve Grand Champion Market Steer was exhibited by Kate Lamon from Giles County.

The Grand Champion Commercial Heifer was exhibited by Maggie Lamon from Giles County, while the Reserve Grand Champion Commercial Heifer was exhibited by Kabry Tinin from Lawrence County. The Farm Bred Division is designed to recognize youth exhibitors and their families that breed and raise quality animals on their home farm. The Grand Champion Farm Bred Commercial Heifer was exhibited by Avery Rowlett from Wayne County, while the Reserve Grand Champion Commercial Heifer was exhibited by Joseph Henry from McMinn County.

Breed classes were offered for any breed that had 8 registered heifers from at least 3 different youth exhibitors. The Bred By Exhibitor Division is designed to recognize youth exhibitors that breed and raise quality animals themselves. Winners from the Registered Heifer classes are listed below.

Angus
Champion                                                        Collin Cook                  Robertson County
Reserve Champion                                        Maggie Lamon            Giles County
Champion Bred By Exhibitor                      Kendra Sellers             Knox County
Reserve Champion Bred By Exhibitor      Ty Maynord                  Overton County

Hereford/Polled Hereford
Champion                                                        Audra Hart                  Bledsoe County
Reserve Champion                                        Audra Hart                  Bledsoe County
Champion Bred By Exhibitor                       Audra Hart                  Bledsoe County
Reserve Champion Bred By Exhibitor       Audra Hart                   Bledsoe County

Shorthorn
Champion                                                        Jaclyn Thomas             Bledsoe County
Reserve Champion                                        Landon Ellison             Lawrence County
Champion Bred By Exhibitor                      Brett Asbury                 Claiborne County
Reserve Champion Bred By Exhibitor       Brett Asbury                 Claiborne County

Shorthorn Plus
Champion                                                        Gracie Giles                 Loudon County
Reserve Champion                                        Sam Teeple                  White County
Champion Bred By Exhibitor                      Brett Asbury                Claiborne County

Simmental
Champion                                                        Kutler Tinin                 Lawrence County
Reserve Champion                                        Emma Armstrong       Bledsoe County
Champion Bred By Exhibitor                      Caroline Garrell          Lincoln County

All Other Breeds
Champion                                                        Cole Ledford                Bradley County
Reserve Champion                                        Stratton Stafford         Giles County
Champion Bred By Exhibitor                      Dustin Pitcock             McMinn County
Reserve Champion Bred By Exhibitor       Sam Gravely                Wilson County

Showmanship Winners
Explorer Division (grade 4)
Champion – Jaclyn Thomas, Bledsoe County
Reserve Champion – Kenlie Cornelius, McMinn County

Junior Division (grades 5-6)
Champion – Stratton Stafford, Giles County             
Reserve Champion – Landon Ellison, Lawrence County

Junior High Division (grades 7-8)
Champion – Kabry Tinin, Lawrence County               
Reserve Champion – Audra Hart, Bledsoe County

Senior Level 1 Division (grades 9-10)
Champion – Maggie Lamon, Giles County
Reserve Champion – Lila Sims, Humphreys County

Senior Level 2 Division (grades 11-12)
Champion – Shyann Smith, Lawrence County              
Reserve Champion – Dustin Pitcock, McMinn County

Skillathon Winners

Explorer Division (grade 4)

1. Kenlie Cornelius, McMinn County
2. Ruthie Hall, Blount County
3. Jaclyn Thomas, Bledsoe County
4. Colton Lee, Fentress County
5. Cole West, Monroe County

Junior Division (grades 5-6)

1. Ransom Johns, Williamson County
2. Jocelyn Essary, Claiborne County
3. Charles Ivey, McMinn County
4. Van Richardson, Union County
5. Macy Gourley, Monroe County

Junior High Division (grades 7-8)

1. Gracie Giles, Loudon County
2. Caroline Garrell, Lincoln County
3. Evan Jackson, Henderson County
4. Caden McKnight, Monroe County
5. Joseph Henry, McMinn County

Senior Level 1 Division (grades 9-10)

1. Abigail Henry, McMinn County
2. Clay Owen, Lincoln County
3. Clara Dailey, Monroe County
4. RuthAnn Johns, Williamson County
5. Emma Armstrong, Bedford County

Senior Level 2 Division (grades 11-12)

1. Mason Collins, Marshall County
2. Cole Ledford, Bradley County
3. Isaac Heck, Claiborne County
4. Kendra Sellers, Knox County
5. Micah Calkins, Blount County

Premier Exhibitor Winners

The purpose of the Premier Exhibitor Program is to provide 4-H and FFA members the opportunity to demonstrate the skills and knowledge that they learn through participating in the junior livestock projects. Premier Exhibitor winners are a result of adding the points earned in the animal show, showmanship and skillathon. Below are the top 5 winners in each division.

Explorer Division (4^th grade)

1. Kenlie Cornelius, McMinn County
2. Jaclyn Thomas, Bledsoe County
3. Colton Lee, Fentress County
4. Ruthie Hall, Blount County
5. Cole West, Monroe County

Junior Division (5^th-6^th grades)

1. Ransom Johns, Williamson County
2. Sam Teeple, White County
3. Stratton Stafford, Giles County
4. Landon Ellison, Lawrence County
5. Korbin Henderson, McMinn County

Junior High Division (7^th-8^th grades)

1. Gracie Giles, Loudon County
2. Audra Hart, Bledsoe County
3. Evan Jackson, Henderson County
4. Caroline Garrell, Lincoln County
5. Clay Pitcock, McMinn County

Senior Level 1 Division (9^th-10^th grades)

1. Abigail Henry, McMinn County
2. Clay Owen, Lincoln County
3. Emma Armstrong, Bedford County
4. Clara Dailey, Monroe County
5. RuthAnn Johns, Williamson County

Senior Level 2 Division (11^th-12^th grades)

1. Mason Collins, Marshall County
2. Cole Ledford, Bradley County
3. Kendra Sellers, Knox County
4. Dustin Pitcock, McMinn County
5. Shyann Smith, Lawrence County

Contact Aaron Fisher for more information.