WC 4-H members win big at San Antonio livestock show

Denya Toman of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H is shown with her Champion AOB Steer at the San Antonio Live- stock Show and Exhibition. Denya named her steer "Butter."

The Wharton County 4- H had another great year at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo bringing home championship banners and scholarship dollars, says Wharton County Extension Agent Aaron Wilson.

Wilson says this year's group of youth also learned about the hard work, dedication, early mornings and late nights that it takes to compete at the state level and did it all while having fun with friends and family.

In the Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Show, Emily Forgason of Boling Buddies 4-H Club won Grand Champion Brahman Heifer and received a $10,000 scholarship for college. Also Showing Brahman heifers were her sisters, Erin Forgason who placed fourth and Ellen Forgason who placed second and third with her two heifers. Michael Joyce Jr. of Caney Creek 4-H Club showed a Red Brahman heifer. In the Shorthorn heifer show, Laura Reyna of the Caney Creek 4-H Club placed seventh and her sister Katie Reyna placed fifth.

In the Junior Market Steer Show, Denya Toman of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H won Champion AOB Breed Champion and received a $10,000 scholarship and made the market sale with her steer. Other steer exhibitors that showed but were unable to make the market sale were Chance Nohavitza and Natalie Nohavitza, both of the El Campo Saddle Club, and Lauren Macha of Caney Creek 4-H Club.

To start the show off in the Turkey Hens, Clay Glaze of the El Campo Prairie Switch 4-H Club placed 13th overall making the market sale on Feb. 15. Also showing Turkeys that day but unable to make it into the top 35 sale spots were Zane Baker and Trenton Socha, both of the El Campo Outdoor Club 4-H. Showing Market Broilers and unable to make the sale this year was Megann Faas of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H.

The 4-H'ers showing dairy cattle earned both first and second place in the Dairy Herd group class. Showing in the Junior Dairy Show were: Danielle Valenta of the El Campo Saddle Club, who placed fifth in her class; Brooke Wallace of Boling Buddies 4-H Club, who placed second with both of her heifers and second in Junior Showmanship; Kyler Couvillion of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H, who placed first in his class; Korie Couvillion of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H, who placed seventh in her class; Bethany Weinheimer of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H, who placed fourth with her cow and first in Senior Showmanship; and Clint George of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H, who placed fourth and received two fifth places with his three heifers.

The Dairy Judging Team of Colleen Krenek of Boling 4- H Buddies, Sierra Ledwig of El Campo Saddle Club, Shelby Rod and Bethany Weinheimer of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H placed ninth overall team with Shelby Rod placing fourth overall individual.

Other Dairy judgers that day were Korie Couvillion, Kyler Couvillion, Cheyenne Morton, Kyler Valenta, Michaela Bram, Cydni Rod and Danielle Valenta, all of the El Campo Saddle Club 4-H, and Brooke Wallace of Boling 4-H Buddies.

The Horse Judging Team members were Taylor Cook, Jillian Jeane, Meredith Jeane and Shea Slattery, all of the El Campo Saddle Club 4-H. Jillian Jeane placed 12th overall.

The Livestock Judging Team members were Katie Reyna and Laura Reyna, both of Caney Creek 4-H Club, Shelby Rod of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H, Brett Wallace and Brooke Wallace, both of Boling 4-H Buddies.

In the Youth Longhorn Show, Shelby Rod of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H exhibited the Grand Champion Halter Female, Grand Champion Haltered Steer and placed first in Senior Showmanship. Gregory Rod of El Campo Saddle Club 4-H also showed winning first place, several second and third places in different classes, as well as winning second place Teen Showmanship.

In the Goat Show, Heather Graham of El Campo Junior 4-H showed her goat, but was unable to place high enough to make it into the market sale.

In the Barrow Show, Regan McGuill of El Campo Junior 4-H exhibited her barrow, however was unable to place him in the market sale this year.

Overall Wharton County had a great representation of its youth and their livestock projects at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo," said Wilson. "Not only did some of these animals earn the youth scholarship money, but it taught them valuable lessons about life and hard work that they will carry with them the rest of their lives. If you see one of these fine young adults listed above be sure to congratulate them on all their efforts and hard work so that they will continue to 'Make the Best Better'."