​The Amarillo area beef community presented a check for $100,500 to the Snack Pak 4 Kids (SP4K) Beef Fund. One hundred percent of the money raised will provide food-insecure students with high-quality beef protein through the Snack Pak 4 Kids weekend backpack program. The check was presented at the fifth annual Beef 4 Kids golf tournament. 
 
"In the past five years, more than $500,000 has been raised through the B4K golf tournament, to ensure kids in 50 area communities have access to protein every weekend. It is a blessing that our agriculture partners have come together to make this possible," said Dyron Howell, Founder and Executive Director of Snack Pak 4 Kids.
 
The SP4K Beef Fund launched in October 2017. The program was designed to provide more protein over the weekend for hungry students in the Texas Panhandle. This year’s tournament pushed the fund to over half a million dollars in donations to the Beef Fund in just five years.  
 
Each year, local teachers answer survey questions from SP4K to ensure the program is adequately serving students in the area.  “The students who get the bags are better mentally, physically and spiritually for having food over the weekends. They are alert, thinking and participating all the time during class and lab,” said a local teacher. 
 
Protein is an important addition to every Snack Pak bag and beef provides ten essential nutrients and vitamins, including protein, zinc and iron – three key nutrients that are essential for proper growth and development of children. 
 
“Texas Cattle Feeders Association is thankful for the strong partnership with Snack Pak 4 Kids and the opportunity to work with the community to provide high-quality beef protein to students in the area,” said Lindsey Sawin, TCFA Communications Coordinator. “Cattle feeders are dedicated stewards of their communities, and we are honored to be able to give back at the Beef 4 Kids Golf Tournament.”
 
TCFA would like to thank the sponsors and golfers who made this year’s event possible. Major sponsoring organizations include Amarillo National Bank, Baptist Community Services, Bezner Beef, Cactus Cares, Cargill, Caviness, Champion Feeders, CoBank, Elanco, Five Rivers, Friona Industries, Jax Transport, Kemin, Kirkland Feedyard, Microtechnologies/MWI, Tyson, Underwood Law Firm and Upshaw Insurance.

Students from across the TCFA region made their way to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas on Friday, July 28 for the 2023 Junior Fed Beef Challenge. Over 60 contestants, who are in third through twelfth grade, delivered phenomenal performances in categories such as the written exam, junior presentations, senior interviews, top carcass and others. 
 
The goal of the contest is to expose youth to the ins and outs of feeding cattle and build the next generation of cattle feeders. Youth who participate in the contest are tasked with feeding a pen of steers, taking a written exam and participating in interviews and oral presentations. The performance of their cattle is also factored into their overall score. 
 
The 2023 Junior Fed Beef Challenge prizes were sponsored by 2023 TCFA Sponsors.
 
In the Junior Division, the Overall Champion received a $350 prize and a trophy buckle. The overall winner was Caden Joy.

In the Senior Division, the First Runner-Up received a $2,000 scholarship and trophy buckle. First Runner-Up went to Kade Lawrence.​

The Reserve Champion received a $3,000 scholarship and trophy buckle. The Reserve Champion went to Grant Kubala.

The Senior Division Overall Champion received a $5,000 scholarship and a trophy buckle. The overall winner was Caraline Dudley

​Junior Division Results
Best Written Exam
3rd Place Written Exam – Baiden Beavers
2nd Place Written Exam – Jenna Stevenson
1st Place Exam and winner of a $250 prize – Caden Joy
 
Best Presentation
3rd Place Presentation – Malley Ecord
2nd Place Presentation – Abby Ressler
Best Presentation and winner of a $250 prize – Grayson McMurphy
 
Best Individual Carcass
3rd Place Individual Carcass – Kennedy Wilhelm
2nd Place Individual Carcass – Kennedy Wilhelm
Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $250 prize – Kennedy Wilhelm
 
Best Pen Steer Points
3rd Place Carcass Pen – Adalyn Carrales
2nd Place Carcass Pen – Crockett Guenther
Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $250 prize – Kennedy Wilhelm
 
Top Rookie Award
2nd Place Rookie – Gracie Ginn
Top Rookie and winner of a $250 prize – Crockett Guenther

Senior Division Results
Best Written Exam
3rd Place Written Exam – Samantha Unruh
2nd Place Written Exam – Grant Kubala
1st Place Exam and winner of a $500 prize – Caraline Dudley
 
Best Interview
3rd Place Interview – Grant Kubala
2nd Place Interview – Caraline Dudley
Best Interview and winner of a $500 prize – Kade Lawrence
 
Best Individual Carcass
3rd Place Individual Carcass – Pierce Wilhelm
2nd Place Individual Carcass – Pierce Wilhelm
Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $500 prize – Pierce Wilhelm
 
Best Pen Steer Points
3rd Place Carcass Pen – Grant Kubala and Kaden Zinnante
2nd Place Carcass Pen – Winston Stevenson
Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $500 prize – Pierce Wilhelm
 
Top Rookie Award
3rd Place Rookie – Jhett Davis
2nd Place Rookie – Kade Davis
Top Rookie and winner of a $500 prize – Lucas Sottosanti