More than 200 young people from 25 states participated in the youth cattle judging contest held in conjunction with the 2012 Cattle Industry Convention and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee last week. The youth competed for honors and cash prizes in the fourth annual competition. The contest is sponsored by Farm Credit, and livestock panels were sponsored by Priefert Ranch Equipment.
NCBA youth programs were championed by former NCBA President Andy Groseta of Cottonwood, Ariz., who prompted the organization to develop additional programs for youth in the cattle industry. The judging contest has grown significantly since first introduced at the 2009 Cattle Industry Convention, where 60 young people competed.
More than 1,000 young people attended the convention, which attracted a record crowd of 8,216.
First place winners in the competition categories were:
Novice Division – John Kohl McAdams, Adkins, Texas
Junior Division – Madison Shults, Dinosaur, Colo.
Senior Division – Gibson Priest, Calhoun, Ga.
Team Placing/Senior Division – Lincoln County (Tenn.) Senior Team A
Collegiate Division – Chris Mackey, University of Tennessee
Team Placing/Collegiate Division – University of Georgia