Jordan Studer
CCN Reporter
BUCYRUS —Emotions were high as the final decision was made at the Dairy Feeder Calf show when Emma Rhodes and her heavyweight calf were named Grand Champion Overall Dairy Feeder. As the judge approached her calf, Rhodes smiled and her eyes sparkled as she fought off tears.
As she left the arena with ribbon in hand, she was met with the warm embraces of her family members who were also shedding tears. Family friend of the Rhodes family, Michelle Feik explained that the successful evening was more than deserved for the family after an emotionally challenging past few months.
When speaking with Rhodes about this challenge she explained through tears that back in April they had lost their grandmother unexpectedly, which crushed the family. Rhodes said that her grandmother was one of her sister Megan and her biggest supporters and would attend everything the girls participated in.
“It’s a lot of emotion. It’s cool (to win) but kind of bittersweet because I wish she was here. And she always supported me in all that I did so it would have been awesome for her to see this,” E. Rhodes said.
Emma and Megan’s mother, Valerie, said that even though her mom wasn’t able to see Emma win, she felt her presence very evidently throughout the night, “I just really felt my mom’s presence here today… when she got showmanship, I was like ‘my mom is here.’ But this (winning Grand Champion Overall Dairy Feeder), I have no words….just very blessed.”
Rhodes said she has been showing Dairy Feeders for five of her eight years in 4-H and though she has had victories along the way, winning Grand Champion Overall Dairy Feeder was her biggest accomplishment to date.
She explained that she felt both excited and stressed when in the final drive.The excitement overrode the stress when she finally won big after many hours of dedication and help from her family.
“I’ll be honest it’s a lot of work, but it really pays off in the end. It’s just so exciting to finally get the big prize. I’ve had a lot of help from my family,” E. Rhodes said.
E. Rhodes not only won Grand Champion Overall Dairy Feeder with her Grand Champion Heavyweight , she also won Senior Showmanship. She will be representing Dairy Feeders at the Showman of Showmen contest Friday evening. Her younger sister, M. Rhodes, also took home the title of Reserve Champion for the Intermediate Showmanship. E. Rhodes explained that being able to do well and win showmanship is not just something that happens overnight.
“It takes a lot of dedication. You have to walk them a lot for them to be able to act well… There was a lot of nights were I was like ‘I don’t want to do it’ but I just went out and did it anyways, so I guess that hard work paid off,” she said.
Making a full sweep in the Overall Holstein Market Steer Grand and Reserve Champion was Avery Langenderfer. Langenderfer explained that this year marks his first year to show Holstein Market Steers so his reaction to winning both Grand and Reserve was one of surprise.
When speaking with Langenderfer, he introduced his winning steers. Reserve went to his steer Kim Cowdashian, (which he explained was chosen because of the steer’s “big butt”). His Grand Champion steer had a shorter and simple name, Blackie.
Upon asking Langenderfer how much work it truly took to prepare for the evening, he was quick to thank all of the those who helped him get to that point.
“I would like to thank Tammy Harer and Zach Harer’s aunt, they put a lot of work in. My cousins for feeding. My dad and my friends and family,” he expressed.
Results from the evening’s show can be found below:
Senior Showmanship:
Grand Champion- Emma Rhodes
Reserve Champion- Allison Scott
Intermediate Showmanship:
Grand Champion- Victoria Hiler
Reserve Champion- Megan Rhodes
Junior Showmanship:
Grand Champion- Lane Rike
Reserve Champion- Alexis Stansberry
Lightweight:
Grand Champion- Michelle Flick
Reserve Champion- Kaylen Ackerman
Middleweight:
Grand Champion- Luke Holman
Reserve Champion- Avery Langenderfer
Heavyweight:
Grand Champion- Emma Rhodes
Reserve Champion- Carson McCarthy
Dairy Feeder Skillathon Winners:
Senior- Wade Ackerman
Intermediate- Megan Rhodes
Junior- Seth Pope
Overall Dairy Feeder:
Grand Champion- Emma Rhodes
Reserve Champion- Luke Holman
Holstein Market Steer Rate-of-Gain:
Champion- Michelle Flick
Second Place- Savannah Barnette
Overall Holstein Market Steer:
Grand Champion- Avery Langenderfer
Reserve Champion- Avery Langenderfer