By Amanda McCoy
amccoy@wbcowqel.com
The 2013 Crawford County Junior Fair Beef Cattle Show was held Tuesday with Judge Andy Weaver taking the ring to determine the best of this year’s Beef Feeders.
A showdown between Max Hackman and Bryce Christy began early in the Heifer Class #2 competition when Hackman won out with his 512 lb. heifer. Jake Lohr took second place, hedging Christy out of a qualifying ranking. However, Christy, whose steer weighed only 451 lbs., came up with a win over Hackman, whose steer weighed 453 lbs., during the Steer Class #4 competition, leaving Hackman in the second place spot for that category.
Overall, it was Bryce Christy of the North Auburn Hustlers who stole the Grand Champion Beef Feeder title with his steer from the Steer Class #4. Max Hackman of the Lykens Champions received the Reserve Grand Beef Feeder title.
After the competition Hackman, 16, described his understanding of the judge’s expectations: “They look for a nice, clean animal that has had plenty of exercise and been fed well to make a nice product.” Hackman also stated that he began preparing his animals very early, working with them from a young age to prepare them for the arena, audience and noise. He said he felt that although heifers and steers compete in the same class, steers are better candidates to win.
Madelyn Assenheimer of the Mt. Zion Buckeyes had the Grand Champion Holstein, weighing 1,436 lbs. Elaina Sellman of the Dairy Maids and Gents took the Reserve Grand title with a Holstein weighing 1,563 lbs.