2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS)

Over 1,000 Angus juniors and their families traveled to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) July 11-July 18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center. National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members stepped up to the plate for “Bases Loaded in the Bluegrass,” exhibiting 987 entries during the weeklong event that included more than a dozen educational contests along with the cattle show.

Reserve Grand Champion Bred-and-owned Bull

Ferree Fitz SRF Polaris 5092 won reserve grand champion bred-and-owned bull at the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 11-18 in Louisville, Ky. Mercedes Ferree, Sullivan, Ind., owns the March 2025 son of Bear Mtn North Star. He first claimed junior champion. Jack Ward, Plattsburg, Mo., judged the owned heifers; Carter Ward, Plattsburg, Mo., assisited with the owned heifers; Donnie Robertson, Yukon, Okla., judged the bred-and-owned bulls and heifers and owned and bred-and-owned cow-calf pairs; Barry Nowatzke, Michigan City, Ind., assisited with the bred-and-owned bulls and heifers and owned and bred-and-owned cow-calf pairs; Kirk Stierwalt, Leedy, Okla., judged the steers; and Cody Sankey, Economy, Ind., judged the phenotype and genotype bulls and females. A total of 987 entries were shown. Photos by Next Level Images.

Bred-and-owned Reserve Junior Champion Bull

SSF Sanctuary 1175 won bred-and-owned reserve junior champion bull at the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 11-18 in Louisville, Ky. Piper Cates, Modoc, Ind., owns the winning bull. Photos by Next Level Images.

Bred-and-owned Senior Bull Calf Champion

Ferree Fitz Sullivan 2582 won bred-and-owned senior bull calf champion at the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 11-18 in Louisville, Ky. Mercedes Ferree, Sullivan, Ind., owns the winning bull. Photos by Next Level Images.

Reserve Grand Champion Steer

HAUGE Kobe 18N won reserve grand champion steer at the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 11-18 in Louisville, Ky. Bryce Hofing, Coatesville, Ind., owns the February 2025 son of ROSE MC Encore 0463. Jack Ward, Plattsburg, Mo., judged the owned heifers; Carter Ward, Plattsburg, Mo., assisited with the owned heifers; Donnie Robertson, Yukon, Okla., judged the bred-and-owned bulls and heifers and owned and bred-and-owned cow-calf pairs; Barry Nowatzke, Michigan City, Ind., assisited with the bred-and-owned bulls and heifers and owned and bred-and-owned cow-calf pairs; Kirk Stierwalt, Leedy, Okla., judged the steers; and Cody Sankey, Economy, Ind., judged the phenotype and genotype bulls and females. A total of 987 entries were shown. Photos by Next Level Images.

Tom Burke Young Angus Achievement Award

Drew McCurry, Hutchinson, Kan., left, and Piper Cates, Modoc, Ind., right, received the Tom Burke Young Angus Achievement Award at the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS), July 11-18 in Louisville, Ky. Photo by Next Level Images.