4-H Youth Compete In Annual Beef Show
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County 4-H Beef Project held their beef steer and heifer show at the Chautauqua County Fairgrounds in Dunkirk. Judging the show was McKenna Broughton of Attica.
The 4-H Beef Program offers two options for participants: either raising a steer to sell at the Meat Animal Sale at the county fair and/or raising a yearling beef heifer to show. All participants in this program attend meetings and gain knowledge about raising beef animals in preparation for showing them at our county fair. Beef animals can be unpredictable and can be over ten times the weight of their handlers. The participants have worked with their animals since last October. That takes many hours of work and lots of perseverance on the part of the kids.
The Grand Champion Steer of 2024, Barney, belonged to Lydia Covert of Lakewood. The Reserve Champion Steer, Brody, also, belonged to Lydia Covert of Lakewood. Third Overall Steer was won by Hannah Schauman of Ashville, Fourth and Fifth Overall Steer were won by Parker Schauman of Ashville. Winning Grand Champion Steer Showman was Lydia Covert of Lakewood and taking Reserve Steer Showman was Alyssa Brown of Sherman.
In the Breeding Show, the Supreme Female, Madonna, belonged to Hannah Schauman of Ashville and the Reserve Champion Female was also won by Hannah Schauman.
See SHOW, Page A6
Hannah is eligible to show her heifer at the New York State Fair in August for NYS Supreme Female in the entire state. Grand Champion Overall Heifer Showman was Lydia Covert, and the Reserve Overall Heifer Showman was Hannah Schauman of Ashville.
Chautauqua County Beef Producers also sponsor a show for 4-H beef participants to encourage participants to purchase a beef animal from local county producers. Grand Champion Chautauqua County Born & Bred Steer belonged to Hannah Schauman with a steer purchased from her family farm. Reserve Champion belonged to Kristen Nickerson, and Third Place was won by Parker Schauman of Windy Hills/Flatsview Farms. Champion Heifer belonged to Hannah Schauman (Flatsview Farm) and Reserve Champion Heifer belonged to Lydia Covert out of Shadowbrook Farm. Each of the winners will receive a monetary award from the Chautauqua County Beef Producers.
The 4-H Beef Project is one of many programs offered by Chautauqua County 4-H. If anyone is interested in joining the beef project or any other program offered by the 4-H Youth Development Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension.