The 95th annual Kay County Junior Livestock Show was held February 22nd through 26th at the Kay County Fairgrounds Livestock Pavilion and Event Center in Blackwell.

Appreciation for the Kay County Free Fair Board of Directors, Kay County Extension Educator’s, FFA Chapter Advisor’s, Stock Show Sponsors, Species Superintendents, 4-H and FFA members, and families are beyond measure. Also recognizing livestock judges Ryan Rash and Jeff Bedwell, Baylee Beck Photography, and the Blackwell Youth Center for the concessions.

The show opened Monday with the sheep and goats, Tuesday the swine, and Wednesday ending the show days with cattle. The event concluded Friday evening with the banquet dinner. Master of Ceremonies this year, Haley Merhoff, Newkirk FFA; Cooper Orr, Blackwell FFA for the presentation of awards; and a dance following.

Exhibitors and their families were busy all week preparing for the show, clean up and the banquet. For many, participating in the KCJLS is a generational affair.

Ryan Rash, from Crockett, Texas judged the sheep, goat and swine shows. Rash is nationally and internationally known. He has judged all livestock show species in 43 states and in Canada, Mexico, and South America. Rash said, “There is no such thing as a small show, all shows are important. The quality has been very good and kids have been excellent. Hopefully, I can come back next year.”

Mr. Jeff Bedwell, cattle show judge stated, “I have judged at the Kay County Jr. Livestock Show several times and this is a highlight. The facility makes it a better environment to show the cattle in and the set of cattle is great quality this year.” Bedwell continued, “I congratulate the Kay County people for being proactive for supporting something that actually adds value to the community and the youth.”

Sheep show:

Supreme Ewe Lamb (Dorset Advantage), Ty Otto, Kay-Pals Livestock 4-H; Reserve Supreme Ewe Lamb (Commercial), Teegan Hodgson, Ponca City FFA; and Bronze Medallion Ewe Lamb (Hampshire), Ty Otto, Kay-Pals Livestock 4-H.

Grand Champion Wether Lamb (Crossbred), Taylor Otto, Kay-Pals Livestock 4-H; Reserve Grand Champion Wether Lamb (Hampshire), Teegan Hodgson, Ponca City FFA; and Bronze Medallion Wether Lamb (Natural), Taylor Otto, Kay- Pals Livestock 4-H.

Goat show:

Supreme Doe Goat, Carly Ballagh, Newkirk FFA; Reserve Supreme Doe Goat, Carly Ballagh, Newkirk FFA; and Bronze Medallion Doe Goat, Katy Frazier, Tonkawa FFA.

Grand Champion Wether Goat, Kinley Brown, Newkirk Go-Getters 4-H; Reserve Grand Champion Wether Goat, Katy Frazier, Tonkawa FFA; and Bronze Medallion Wether Goat, Carly Ballagh, Newkirk FFA.

Swine show:

Supreme Gilt (Berkshire), Payten Kienholz, Tonkawa 4-H; Reserve Supreme Gilt (Commercial), Kyrin Wolfe, Blackwell OK-Okies 4-H; and Bronze Medallion Gilt (Commercial), Jake Smith, Blackwell FFA. Grand Champion Bar row (Berkshire), Adalynna Ingmire, Tonkawa 4-H; Reserve Grand Champion Barrow (Berkshire), Tucker Jeffries, Blackwell FFA; and Bronze Medallion Barrow (Hampshire), Adalynna Ingmire, Tonkawa FFA.

Cattle show:

Supreme Heifer (Commercial), Kent Tripp, Blackwell FFA; Reserve Supreme Heifer (Red Angus), James Tripp, Blackwell FFA; and Bronze Medallion Heifer (Commercial), Trenton Scott, Newkirk FFA.

Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred), Reid Buellesfeld, Blackwell OK-Okies 4-H; Reserve Grand Champion Steer (Crossbred), Tanner Otto, Ponca City FFA; and Bronze Medallion Steer (Crossbred), Cooper Orr, Blackwell FFA.

Champion Commercial Beef Pen – Bree Rowe, Blackwell FFA.

Reserve Champion Commercial Beef Pen – Chandler Peetoom, Blackwell FFA.

Showmanship Awards:

Lamb Showmanship Awards: Junior, Ty Otto, Kay-Pals Livestock 4-H; Intermediate, Teegan Hodgson, Ponca City FFA; and Senior, Sophie Hodgson, Ponca City FFA.

Wether Goat Showmanship Awards: Junior, Trenton Morton, Newkirk Go- Getters 4-H; Intermediate, Jacob Merhoff, Newkirk Go-Getters 4-H; and Senior, Katy Frazier, Tonkawa FFA.

Doe Goat Showmanship Awards: Junior, Kyndall Dowler, Newkirk Go- Getters 4-H; Intermediate, Jacob Merhoff, Newkirk Go-Getters 4-H; and Senior, Kenzie Glenny, Tonkawa FFA.

Swine Showmanship Awards: Junior, Ross Kelly, Newkirk Go-Getters 4-H; Intermediate, Justin Fast, Newkirk FFA; and Senior, Tucker Jeffries, Blackwell FFA.

Beef Showmanship Awards: Junior, Jessica Hobaugh, Blackwell OK- Okies 4-H; Intermediate, Tanner Otto, Ponca City FFA; and Senior, Cooper Orr, Blackwell FFA.

Stock Show Sponsors

Platinum: Community National Bank and Trust, Dorada Foods and RCB Bank. Gold: American Ag Credit, Oklahoma Ag Credit, and Stride Bank. Silver: Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, LLC, Highland Dairy, Glass Operating Group, LLC, Jiffy Trip, Kay Electric Cooperative, Southern Plains Livestock Auction, and Tonkawa Meat Processing. Friends of the Livestock Show: Heather Cannon Honda, Alan and Tammy Reese, and Smith Home Furnishing.

Trophy Sponsors: Jeff and Lisa Kubik, Oklahoma Ag Credit, Equity Bank, Hodgson Club Lambs, Stride Bank, Buellesfeld Cattle Company, Fast Family, Silvertop Farm and Vineyards, Essential Feeds, W-O Ranch, NOC Agriculture Sciences, Farmers Cooperative Association, Sooner State Pattern Works, Goodwin Club Lambs, Blubaugh Angus Ranch, Tyson Jackson - Farm Bureau Insurance, Hodgson Club Lambs, First National Bank of Oklahoma, Overman Farms, BancFirst, Kelle Oil Company, TANA Ag Solutions, Kay County AFR Local 306, Neighbors Farms LLC, Blisful Acres, Dobson Ranch, GT Land and Cattle, Liz Nicholson, JSJ Trucking, Jimmy and Susan Rhea, Neal and Brian Balzer Show Pigs, Kevin Frazier and Family, Kay County Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee, Otto Seeds-Chad and Bonnie Otto, Brett and Carole Stephens, T&K Harvesting, 4B Cattle-Lance and Kelli Bergman, Jason and Kim Shanks, Leo Hazaleus Memorial, Kay County Farm Bureau, Corbin DeWitt Real Estate, and Tyson and Lori Morton.