Five Rooks County youth participate in Kansas Junior Livestock Show

Five of our Rooks County 4-H youth competed at the 90th Kansas Junior Livestock Show held September 30 to October 2 in Hutchinson, bringing home many Top 5 placings in their respective classes.

The Kansas Junor Livestock Show (KJLS) got its start in November 1933, drawing 500 exhibitors and more than 1,000 head of livestock to the Wichita Forum. Since then, the 90-year-old event has stayed true to its heritage by continuing to be the largest youth livestock show in the state.

This year, more than 700 exhibitors entered 1,422 animals in the show.

Those from Rooks County competing this year included: Ryan Mongeau, Bodye Stithem and Eli Atkisson of Stockton; and Daylen Beesley and Coy Beesley of Palco.

Ryan Mongeau, son of Dawn Mongeau and the late Michael Mongeau of Stockton, participated in the Senior Swine Showmanship and earned Top 5 places in each of the following classes: 5th in Class 26 Commercial gilts, 2nd in Class 28 Commercial gilts, 5th in Class 15 Dark Cross Barrows and 2nd in Class 16 Dark Cross Barrows.

Ryan was asked to help a friend, Tucker Goss of Ellsworth, show his Barrow. Tucker had recently broken his leg and was unable to put any weight on the leg. Ryan got to hit the green chips with Tucker's Champion Poland Barrow.

Bodye Stithem, daughter of Jesse and Michelle Stithem of Stockton, brought her Simmental Heifer and competed in the Senior Beef Showmanship, taking 1st in Class 35.

Bodye is a sophomore and a member of the Star 4-H Club. This is her fourth year of competing at the KJLS in Hutchinson.

Eli Atkisson, age 10 and son of Dan and Amanda Atldsson of Stockton, showed his Angus Heifer 'Eileen,' placing 2nd in Class and finished with an impressive 4th Overall Junior Beef Showman.

In the swine barn, Eli also had good showings, placing in the Top 5 with a 3rd and 5th-place showing in Crossbred Market Hogs and 4th in Class with his Yorkshire Breeding Gilt.

Eli also made it to the semi-finals of the Junior Swine Showmanship. Eli is a member of the Star 4-H Club and this was his third year competing in the KJLS.

Daylen Beesley, a fifth grader and age 10, is the daughter of Cade of Jesse Beesley of Palco and a member of the Palco 4-H Club.

Daylen brought her Heifer at the KLF Prospect Club Calf Sale at the 2021 KJLS. This sale contains calves that will be eligible to show the following year consigned from breeders all across the state. All of the prospect calves from this sale are eligible to come back the following year to show in the Futurity Show at KJLS. Daylen and her heifer, 'Katie Kat,' were the winners of the 2022 KLF Heifer Futurity Show.

There were 17 heifers that returned for this show from the sale last year.

'Katie Kat' was consigned by Pieper Land & Cattle of Zurich. Daylen and 'Katie' also placed 2nd in their April born Commercial Heifer Class.

Coy Beesley, a seventh-grader and age 12, is the son of Cade and Jess Beesley of Palco and a member of the Palco 4-H Club.

His Crossbred Gilt named, 'Mae,” placed 4th in her Breeding Gilft Class. Coy’s pig was shown by his sister, Daylen, due to him sustaining a concussion at his football game earlier in the week.

We congratulate all our local ldds for their accomplishments and the many hours of hard work and dedication it takes throughout the year getting their livestock ready to compete in these shows.

The following are the Grand and Reserve Champions in their respective divisions in beef and swine from the KJLS: Ty Wood from Leavenworth County led the Grand Champion Market Steer, a 1,420 lb. Crossbred entry. His steer bested a field of 98 in the show and Wood received a $4,000 premium for his steer.

The Reserve Champion, weighing 1,447, came from the Charolais division and was owned by Rilee McGraw of Finnesy County, who received a $2,000 premium for her steer.

Grace Schmeidler of Ellis County led her Angus female to Supreme Champion honors in the Breeding Heifer Show.

Schmeidler was awarded a $1,000 premium. Reserve Supreme Champion, worth a $750 premium, went to a Mainetainer heifer owned by Lauren Aust from Linn Countuy.

There were 260 heifers entered in the show.

In the Senior Beef Showmanship Division, Dustin Denton of Marshall County was Champion while Reserve Champion went to Josi Schrader from Ottawa County. In the Intermediate division, Bradyn Greenwood from Wabunsee County was named Champion while Brek Colantonio from Stevens County was Reserve.

The Champion showman in the Junior Division was Josie Beltz of McPherson County. Reserve was awarded by Devyn Frost from Jewell County.

Abi Lillard of Dickinson County guided her 260 lb. dark Crossbred to the Grand Champion Market Hog title, which earned her $2,000. A 265 lb. dark Crossbred owned by Corbin Fink from Pottawatomie County was Reserve Grand Champion of the 135-had show.

Fink’s hog garnered a $1,500 premium.

Kate Heikes of Johnson County was named Supreme Champion in the 217-head gilt show.

Heikes received a $750 premium for the gilt.

James DeRouchey from Pottawatomie County exhibited the Reserve Supreme, a Berkshire gilt worth $600.

Kason Ramsey of Finney County was named Champion in Senior Swine Showmanship.

The Reserve Champion was Kyleigh Heikes from Johnson County. In the Intermediate Division, Anah Higbie of Franldin County was awarded the Champion title. Reserve was Kate Heikes from Johnson County. Ella Smith of Grant County was named Champion in the Junior Division. The Reserve Champion was Cheyanne Davis from Shawnee County.