A 2016 Simmental was in the winner’s circle for top female, while a Charolais took top spot in the bull calf show
Four different breeds took home banners from Canadian Western Agribition’s first purebred beef shows of the event last week.
The interbreed First Lady Classic and President’s Classic each drew more than 90 entries.
Rising to the top on the female side was SFI Miss Seein Purple, a 2016 Simmental entry from Wheatland Cattle Co. at Bienfait, Sask., and additional owners Schaake Farms and Michelson Land and Cattle.
Riley Lafrentz from Wheatland said winning the Classic was a great way to kick off Agribition.
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“We exhibit cattle at various shows, and Agribition is our big main show that we target ourselves for every fall,” he said.
“It’s really, really tough (to win). There’s lots of good heifers. You’re not going to find any better quality anywhere but here at Agribition.”
The family has won the Classic before and taken reserve honours several times. Lafrentz said the wins make all the time and hard work at home worthwhile.
The Lafrentzes run about 240 purebred and commercial Sim-mental and Angus cattle. They have an on-farm bull sale in March and show at Agribition as a marketing tool.
Lafrentz, who is 23, said he has been attending the show since he could walk. He just returned to the farm full time after obtaining an animal science degree at Kansas State University, where his brother, Cody, is currently in third year. Both of them chose the school for its livestock judging program.
Another young exhibitor showed the reserve champion red Angus female, Red Blair’s Monique 572 D. Baxter Blair, 15, is from Double B Angus at McLean, Sask.
The First Lady also includes a futurity. The winner was a Black Angus, Merit Socialite 5121C with calf at side, Merit Sting 7047E, from Merit Cattle Co. of Radville, Sask.
Red Ter-Ron Diamond Mist 26C with calf Red Ter-Ron Six Mile Misty 7E, was the reserve winner. The exhibitors were Ter-Ron Farms from Forestburg, Alta., and Six Mile Ranch of Fir Mountain, Sask.
A show ring veteran took top honours in the bull calf show. Mike Elder from Elder Charolais Farm at Coronach, Sask., said his win with Elder’s Honcho 72E is good for the breed.
“Our Charolais tan calves and buckskins and the silver calves are top of the market right now, so it’s very, very good for the Charolais breed,” he said.
The Elders run about 150 registered females and have their own bull sale in March.
“We’ve been coming (to Agri-bition) for 25 years and we’ll continue to come for 25 years,” he said.
“The facilities here are second to none now that they’ve done everything.”
The reserve winner was a Black Angus, PM Executive Decision 5’17 from Poplar Meadows Angus of Houston, B.C.
