Karsyn Zenor, Attica, and Kayla Kirtley, Noblesville, represented Indiana at the 2018 National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest, held in conjunction with the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 7-13 in Madison, Wis. Forty-seven youth from across the country and Canada competed for top honors in the 52nd annual event. Photo by Pearls Pics on behalf of the American Angus Association.
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Kansas juniors took home the top honors at this year’s showmanship contest. Madison Loschke of Kingsdown, Kansas, was named top showman and Cale Hinrichsen of Westmoreland, Kansas, took home reserve honors. Only two showmen and women from each state are selected to compete in the National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) showmanship contest, and juniors can only participate once, making it one of the toughest competitions at the NJAS.
“It’s something that you lay in bed and dream about,” Loschke said. “Showmanship is the crème dele crème in my family.”
The journey to earning one of the coveted silver bowls, which are awarded to the top five showmen, begins in each contestant’s home state, where two juniors are selected as representatives. Then, at the National Junior Angus Show, selected junior members head to the ring to compete for top honors. The preliminary round consisted of four heats on Thursday, July 12, where the top 15 showmen and women were selected.
The finals were held Friday, July 13, where the top five showmen and women were selected. Every year, the top showman at the NJAS is honored with the Dean Hurlbut Award, named after the man who organized the first showmanship competition in 1967.
“For years, I’ve strived to win this cup,” Loschke said. “It’s a dream come true.”
Jessica Radcliffe, John Griswold and Dan Kiesewetter evaluated the juniors on their skills while handling an animal, their ability to follow instructions, and courtesy and sportsmanship in the showring. Paul Hil served as the surrogate judge.
Radcliffe says she was looking for showmen and women who came to win.
“Today, I would say, was tough,” Radcliffe said. “I know what they’re feeling, and I’ve been in their shoes. It definitely came down to little things and deciphering them. You really had to show that you wanted to win the title of national showman out here.”
Following Loschke in the top five were: Cale Hinrichsen, Westmoreland, Kansas; Lucas Wisnefski, Wyoming, Illinois; Jera Pipkin, Republic, Missouri; and John Henderson, East Troy, Wisconsin.
The National Junior Angus Showmanship Contest brings together the breed’s top young showmen, and it is considered an honor to be among those competing. The top 15 showmen who were awarded a pair of Andis clippers were: Cale Hinrichsen, Westmoreland, Kansas; Savannah Brauning, Finksburg, Maryland; Sydnee Gerken, Cashion, Oklahoma; Taylor Duckett, Tipton, Iowa; Jera Pipkin, Republic, Missouri; Erica Snook, Caldwell, Ohio; Hayley Greiman, Perry, Iowa; Madison Loschke, Kingsdown, Kansas; Ryan Callahan, Edmond, Oklahoma; John Henderson, East Troy, Wisconsin; Emily Piland, Rescue, California; Lucas Wisnefski, Wyoming, Illinois; Brody Fitzgerald, West Grove, Pennsylvania; Hannah Cox, Staunton, Virginia; Hailie Conley, Belleville, Ontario, Canada. Those receiving honorable mentions were: Chas Rowlett, Cypress Inn, Tennessee; Maggie Reid, Eaton Rapids, Michigan; Kyle Piscione, Burbank, Ohio; and Ashley Cox, Eagle Point, Oregon.
The 2018 NJAS in Madison, Wisconsin, celebrated 50 years of tradition and excellence. The week is forever a part of Angus history and set the standard for the next 50 years.
Visit www.angus.org for complete show results and news from the event.