Pride lived up to her name at the Regina Spring Steer and Heifer Show.
The 14-month-old heifer earned grand champion honours at the Regina show for Emily Okerstrom of Moose Jaw, Sask.
“It’s funny that her name is Pride and she made me proud of her,” said Okerstrom, from the Old Wives 4-H Club.
Pride is a Black Angus heifer, which emerged on top of that breed’s class and then beat out winners from Simmental, Hereford, Maine Anjou, Red Angus and commercial heifer classes.
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The reserve grand champion was also a Black Angus, exhibited by Erika Easton of Wawota, Sask.
Okerstrom, 13, was attending the event for just the second time.
“It feels good,” she said. “I had a gut feeling she was going to win.”
Judge Lance Leachman of Maidstone, Sask., told her he liked the heifer’s body and bone structure.
“She has the stuff that makes a good heifer,” said Okerstrom.
She and the other participants will now show their heifers and steers at other spring and summer shows and achievement days.
Blythe Clemence, also 13, of Kipling, Sask., and the Kennedy 4-H Club won the steer grand championship with her Maine-Angus cross, Gary.
Justin Hall of Craven, Sask., showed the reserve, a Maine-Anjou.
Show chair Reed Andrew said 100 members from 25 Saskatchewan 4-H clubs entered 140 animals in the event, which is down from previous years.
“There was some uncertainty about if it was happening or not,” he said, referring to the fact that a volunteer committee took over the show after Canadian Western Agribition did not extend a three-year management contract.
Organizers had to reconnect with sponsors, but they came on board to keep costs in line. Weather was also a factor, and the entry deadline was earlier than usual.
As well, costs were up because the new arrangements meant participants had to pay for power.
Working with the Regina Bull Sale is the only way to keep costs in line.
Both events were held in Canada Centre Arena this year instead of the Auditorium. Andrew said the expanded ring was a good fit for both exhibitors and cattle.
“This is the first show most of these cattle have ever been to,” he said.
Leachman said he was impressed with the quality of the cattle and the work ethic and professionalism of the 4-H members.
“You can tell which (youth) do the work,” he said, referring to how much work parents should do on their children’s cattle.
He spoke with each participant as he judged the two-day event and offered comments to all participants.
“When you do junior shows, you try and teach the kids things they could improve or continue to do,” he said.
He said completeness, structural soundness and attractiveness were the reasons why the winners came out on top.
“They are useful in their condition.”
Leachman also said he hoped the older participants take their skills to show rings at larger events such as Agribition.
Kayla King won the spirit of the show award as voted by the exhibitors.
The best kept stall award for clubs with 10 or less head went to the Milestone 4-H Beef Club, and the award for larger stalls went to Valley View 4-H Beef Club.
Andrew said the committee will meet to decide how to improve the show for next year.
“The committee is passionate about keeping it going,” he said.
HEIFER SHOWMANSHIP WINNERS:
•Lexi Hicks, Mortlach, junior;
•Brittany Hunt, Rose Valley, intermediate;
•Kayla King, Corning, senior.
STEER SHOWMANSHIP WINNERS:
•Jamie Sawatzky, Central Butte, junior;
•Colton Brokenshire, Estevan, intermediate;
•Kristina Ginter, White City, senior.
JUDGING WINNERS:
•Brandy Fettes, Gladmar, cloverbud;
•Kodie Doetzel, Lipton, junior;
•Shane Roger, Balgonie, intermediate;
•Megan Roger, Balgonie, senior.
