For Immediate Release                                                                      
August 18, 2004

Contact Burt Rutherford         
(photos are available.  Please call 800-299-8232 or e-mail james@tcfa.org)

 TCFA NAMES WINNERS IN 2004 JUNIOR FED BEEF CHALLENGE

             Young cattlemen, intent on not just winning but learning as well, came away from the TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge with plenty of wins and knowledge alike this year.  Sponsored by the Texas Cattle Feeders Association (TCFA), the Junior Fed Beef Challenge allows 4-H and FFA students to gain practical experience in commercial cattle feeding.  Students from Cattle Feeding Country of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico feed a pen of three steers, then compete on their knowledge and cattle performance for prizes, premiums and college scholarships.  The contest features a Team Challenge as well, where students who don't feed cattle can compete on their cattle feeding knowledge.   

Senior Division Results

            Overall champion and top scholarship winner in the senior division was Matt Mellema of Dalhart, who won a $2,000 college scholarship.  Ole Dahl of Texhoma , Okla. captured reserve champion overall and a $1,500 scholarship.  A pair of Hallettsville students, Ashley Schmidt and Stephen Tobola, tied for first runner up and a $1,000 college scholarship.

            The top three winners are determined by combining scores in four areas-written exam, interview, record book and carcass performance of their steers.  A plaque and $500 cash is given to first place winners in each area and plaques go to second and third.  In addition, each student who enters steers in the contest earns premium money plus the proceeds from the sale of the cattle. 

            In the written exam, Brian Jalufka of Moulton took first with second going to Stephen Tobola and third to Ole Dahl.  While the written exam tests the student's knowledge of the industry, the interview before a panel of judges tests their ability to think on their feet.  Ashley Schmidt captured first place, with Jess Little of Garwood taking second and Ole Dahl claiming third.

            Matt Mellema and Ashley Schmidt tied for first place in the record book competition while Stephen Tobola and brother Wesley Tobola tied for second and Rhett Renner of Spearman took third.  Stephen Tobola took first in the livestock evaluation category, followed by Alicia Fulton of Franklin in second and Ole Dahl in third.

            In individual carcass competition, a three-way tie for first place showed that the students learned their lessons well on how to care for cattle.  Andrew Solomon of Memphis and the brother-sister duo of Taylor White and Sydney White of Dalhart split the award.  Second place was a tie as well, with Hank Messer of Canyon and Matt Mellema taking home awards and third place went to Dillon Meeves of Muleshoe.  The award for top pen of three carcasses was captured by Hank Messer, with Matt Mellema taking second and brothers Ole Dahl and Pete Dahl splitting third. 

            In addition, TCFA awards $500 and plaques to the top first year students in the competition.  This year, Stephen Tobola was named top rookie, followed by brother Wesley Tobola in second and Tiffany Varley of Sheridan in third. 

Junior Division Results

            The Mellema family of Dalhart took home the hardware, as Tammo Mellema was named overall winner in the Junior Division.  In the Junior Division, youngsters compete in the same four areas, vying for a plaque and $100 cash prize for first and a plaque for second.

            Tammo Mellema took top honors in the written exam, followed by AnnaLee Allcorn of Olton in second.  Tammo Mellema came back to capture the oral presentation category, followed by brother Mitchell Mellema in second. 

            Best record book honors the brother duo of Tammo and Mitchell Mellema with Chelsea White of Dalhart winning second.  Ryan Dahl of Texhoma , Okla. , nabbed first place in the cattle evaluation category, followed by Eric Jalufka of Moulton in second. 

            The Mellema duo of Tammo and Mitchell captured the top pen of three carcass award with Ryan Dahl taking second.  Top individual carcass honors went to AnnaLee Alcorn with a three way tie for second going to Reagan Parr of Memphis, Laci Snider of Memphis and Chelsea White. 

            AnnaLee Allcorn captured the top rookie award with Katelyn VanDeaver of Bogota in second. 

 Team Challenge Results

            In the Team Challenge contest, Ashley Tieken and Megan Woytek of Hallettsville won top overall honors.  Second place went to Kristen and Nicholas Odom of Wellington and third was won by Tyler Bludau and Laura Muehr of Hallettsville. 

            In the written exam portion of the contest, the Hallettsville team of Ashley Tiekan and Megan Woytek took first, followed by the Hallettsville duo of Laura Mueher and Tyler Bludau in second and the sister-brother duo of Kristen and Nicholas Odom in third. 

            The cattle evaluating contest saw top honors go to Kristen and Nicholas Odom with Ashley Tieken and Megan Woytek taking second and a team from Hooker, Okla. of Seth Adams, Kerry Freisen and Sasha James taking third.   

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