RESULTS OF THE 2026 TCFA BEEF SHOWCASE
Three hundred feedyard employees, allied industry representatives, students and the public joined TCFA for the 2026 Beef Showcase on Thursday at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). Attendees participated in educational contests and learned from WTAMU Meat Scientists about beef fabrication. Additionally, Tyler’s Barbeque provided dinner for the reception. The Beef Showcase would not be possible without TCFA’s Allied Industries Committee members and TCFA sponsors.
In the contest, participants determined the quality and yield grade criteria of 10 live steers via video and were then asked to match them to 10 carcasses displayed in the fabrication room. Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 were awarded to the winners in each division. The winners of the Video/Carcass Match Contest in each division are as follows:
Collegiate Division
1st Place — Ryan Stricker
2nd Place — Calob Walker
3rd Place — Brittley Bowers and Aubrey Meador
Public Division
1st Place — Kurt Landis
2nd Place — Jillian Phelps
3rd Place — Austin Adams
Feedyard Division
1st Place — Roy Heitschmidt
2nd Place — Bryant Sawin
3rd Place — Sam Stevenson
In the second competition, contestants put their knowledge to the test with an exam covering bovine anatomy, industry history and more. However, this year’s knowledge and skills exam came with a twist. The top seven test scorers competed in Showcase Jeopardy. Each of the top seven scorers picked a teammate from the crowd and the competitors split a purse of $1,500.
Beef Industry Knowledge & Skills Contest Awards:
1st Place — Ben Holland & Joe Buntyn
2nd Place — Jack Cowen & Jenna Stevenson
3rd Place — Brittley Bowers & Ben Weinheimer
4th Place — Justin Gleghorn & Hope Gleghorn
5/6th Place — Bryan Bernhard & Tanya Stevenson and Daniel Young & Dexter Tomczak
7th Place — Spencer Walahoski & Ryan Stricker
Exclusive to TCFA feedyard members, the final portion of the contest was the Beef Showcase Steer Awards. Each participant fed one steer to be graded on carcass attributes with a total of 26 steers entered. Winners include:
Beef Showcase Steer Awards
Grand Champion Steer — Champion Feeders – Hitch 1
Reserve Grand Champion Steer — Champion Feeders
Third Overall Steer — Cactus Feeders – Frontier Feedyard
Proceeds of the Beef Showcase go to TCFA’s Education Foundation to award scholarships to graduate, Ph.D. and DVM students from New Mexico State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University who want to pursue careers in the fed beef industry. This year’s event raised a total of $10,000.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Beef Showcase. Be on the look-out for more information on the 2027 Beef Showcase.
Three hundred feedyard employees, allied industry representatives, students and the public joined TCFA for the 2026 Beef Showcase on Thursday at West Texas A&M University (WTAMU). Attendees participated in educational contests and learned from WTAMU Meat Scientists about beef fabrication. Additionally, Tyler’s Barbeque provided dinner for the reception. The Beef Showcase would not be possible without TCFA’s Allied Industries Committee members and TCFA sponsors.
In the contest, participants determined the quality and yield grade criteria of 10 live steers via video and were then asked to match them to 10 carcasses displayed in the fabrication room. Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 were awarded to the winners in each division. The winners of the Video/Carcass Match Contest in each division are as follows:
Collegiate Division
1st Place — Ryan Stricker
2nd Place — Calob Walker
3rd Place — Brittley Bowers and Aubrey Meador
Public Division
1st Place — Kurt Landis
2nd Place — Jillian Phelps
3rd Place — Austin Adams
Feedyard Division
1st Place — Roy Heitschmidt
2nd Place — Bryant Sawin
3rd Place — Sam Stevenson
In the second competition, contestants put their knowledge to the test with an exam covering bovine anatomy, industry history and more. However, this year’s knowledge and skills exam came with a twist. The top seven test scorers competed in Showcase Jeopardy. Each of the top seven scorers picked a teammate from the crowd and the competitors split a purse of $1,500.
Beef Industry Knowledge & Skills Contest Awards:
1st Place — Ben Holland & Joe Buntyn
2nd Place — Jack Cowen & Jenna Stevenson
3rd Place — Brittley Bowers & Ben Weinheimer
4th Place — Justin Gleghorn & Hope Gleghorn
5/6th Place — Bryan Bernhard & Tanya Stevenson and Daniel Young & Dexter Tomczak
7th Place — Spencer Walahoski & Ryan Stricker
Exclusive to TCFA feedyard members, the final portion of the contest was the Beef Showcase Steer Awards. Each participant fed one steer to be graded on carcass attributes with a total of 26 steers entered. Winners include:
Beef Showcase Steer Awards
Grand Champion Steer — Champion Feeders – Hitch 1
Reserve Grand Champion Steer — Champion Feeders
Third Overall Steer — Cactus Feeders – Frontier Feedyard
Proceeds of the Beef Showcase go to TCFA’s Education Foundation to award scholarships to graduate, Ph.D. and DVM students from New Mexico State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University who want to pursue careers in the fed beef industry. This year’s event raised a total of $10,000.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2026 Beef Showcase. Be on the look-out for more information on the 2027 Beef Showcase.
RESULTS OF THE 2025 TCFA BEEF SHOWCASE EVENT
Three hundred twenty feedyard employees, allied industry, students and the public joined TCFA for the 2025 Beef Showcase on Thursday at West Texas A&M University. Attendees participated in three educational contests and had the opportunity to learn from beef industry experts during the Value of Beef panel moderated by the Texas Beef Council. Additionally, Tyler’s Barbeque provided dinner for the reception. The Beef Showcase would not be possible without TCFA’s Allied Industries Committee members and TCFA sponsors.
In the contest, participants determined the quality and yield grade criteria of 10 live steers via video and were then asked to match them to 10 carcasses displayed in the fabrication room. Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 were awarded to the winners in each division. The winners of the Video/Carcass Match Contest in each division are as follows:
Collegiate Division
1st Place — Owen Sanders, Texas A&M University
2nd Place — Helene Keiser, West Texas A&M University
3rd Place — Beau Johnson, West Texas A&M University
Public Division
1st Place — Eddie Behrends, New Mexico Livestock
2nd Place — Allie Martin, Telus Ag
3rd Place — Bryan Bernhard, Zoetis
Feedyard Division
1st Place — Laphe LaRoe, Smith Cattle Co.
2nd Place — Ben Fort, Dean Cluck Feedyard Inc.
3rd Place — Dave Venhaus, Cactus Feeders
The second competition mimicked a beef skillathon. Participants put their knowledge to the test with an exam covering bovine anatomy, industry history and more. However, this year’s knowledge and skills exam came with a twist. The top eight test scorers competed in a quiz bowl round, and the top eight competitors split a purse of $1,500.
Beef Industry Knowledge & Skills Contest Awards:
1st Place — Spencer Walahoski, West Texas A&M University
2nd Place — Ryan Heitschmidt, West Texas A&M University
3rd Place — Blake Foraker, Texas Tech University
4th Place — Justin Gleghorn, Cactus Feeders
5/6th Place — Megan Eckhardt, West Texas A&M University & Kelby Cowley, Merck
7/8th Place — Helene Keiser, West Texas A&M University & Clayton Stevenson, West Texas A&M University
Exclusive to TCFA feedyard members, the final portion of the contest was the Beef Showcase Steer Awards. Each participant fed one steer to be graded on carcass attributes with a total of 24 steers entered. Winners include:
Beef Showcase Steer Awards
Grand Champion Steer — Dimmitt Feedyard
Reserve Grand Champion Steer — Cobalt Cattle Company, Tulia
Third Overall Steer — Frontera Feedyard
Proceeds of the Beef Showcase go to TCFA’s Education Foundation to award scholarships to graduate, Ph.D. and DVM students from New Mexico State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University who want to pursue careers in the fed beef industry. This year’s event raised a total of $24,000.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 Beef Showcase. Be on the look-out for more information on the 2026 Beef Showcase.
Three hundred twenty feedyard employees, allied industry, students and the public joined TCFA for the 2025 Beef Showcase on Thursday at West Texas A&M University. Attendees participated in three educational contests and had the opportunity to learn from beef industry experts during the Value of Beef panel moderated by the Texas Beef Council. Additionally, Tyler’s Barbeque provided dinner for the reception. The Beef Showcase would not be possible without TCFA’s Allied Industries Committee members and TCFA sponsors.
In the contest, participants determined the quality and yield grade criteria of 10 live steers via video and were then asked to match them to 10 carcasses displayed in the fabrication room. Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 were awarded to the winners in each division. The winners of the Video/Carcass Match Contest in each division are as follows:
Collegiate Division
1st Place — Owen Sanders, Texas A&M University
2nd Place — Helene Keiser, West Texas A&M University
3rd Place — Beau Johnson, West Texas A&M University
Public Division
1st Place — Eddie Behrends, New Mexico Livestock
2nd Place — Allie Martin, Telus Ag
3rd Place — Bryan Bernhard, Zoetis
Feedyard Division
1st Place — Laphe LaRoe, Smith Cattle Co.
2nd Place — Ben Fort, Dean Cluck Feedyard Inc.
3rd Place — Dave Venhaus, Cactus Feeders
The second competition mimicked a beef skillathon. Participants put their knowledge to the test with an exam covering bovine anatomy, industry history and more. However, this year’s knowledge and skills exam came with a twist. The top eight test scorers competed in a quiz bowl round, and the top eight competitors split a purse of $1,500.
Beef Industry Knowledge & Skills Contest Awards:
1st Place — Spencer Walahoski, West Texas A&M University
2nd Place — Ryan Heitschmidt, West Texas A&M University
3rd Place — Blake Foraker, Texas Tech University
4th Place — Justin Gleghorn, Cactus Feeders
5/6th Place — Megan Eckhardt, West Texas A&M University & Kelby Cowley, Merck
7/8th Place — Helene Keiser, West Texas A&M University & Clayton Stevenson, West Texas A&M University
Exclusive to TCFA feedyard members, the final portion of the contest was the Beef Showcase Steer Awards. Each participant fed one steer to be graded on carcass attributes with a total of 24 steers entered. Winners include:
Beef Showcase Steer Awards
Grand Champion Steer — Dimmitt Feedyard
Reserve Grand Champion Steer — Cobalt Cattle Company, Tulia
Third Overall Steer — Frontera Feedyard
Proceeds of the Beef Showcase go to TCFA’s Education Foundation to award scholarships to graduate, Ph.D. and DVM students from New Mexico State University, Texas A&M University, Texas Tech University and West Texas A&M University who want to pursue careers in the fed beef industry. This year’s event raised a total of $24,000.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2025 Beef Showcase. Be on the look-out for more information on the 2026 Beef Showcase.