 Students from across the TCFA region made their way to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas on Friday, July 26 for the 2024 Junior Fed Beef Challenge. Over 55 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 2024 Junior Fed Beef Challenge prizes were sponsored by 2024 TCFA Sponsors. In the Junior Division, the Overall Champion received a $350 prize and a trophy buckle. The overall winner was Jenna Stevenson. In the Senior Division, the First Runner-Up received a $2,000 scholarship and trophy buckle. First Runner-Up went to Quannah Dudley. The Reserve Champion received a $3,000 scholarship and trophy buckle. The Reserve Champion went to Ryan Janak. The Senior Division Overall Champion received a $5,000 scholarship and a trophy buckle. The overall winner was Kade Lawrence. Junior Division Results
Best Written Exam 3rd Place Written Exam – Tate Fritsch 2nd Place Written Exam – Crockett Guenther 1st Place Exam and winner of a $250 prize – Jenna Stevenson Best Presentation 3rd Place Presentation – Tatum Fritsch 2nd Place Presentation – Virginia Stevenson Best Presentation and winner of a $250 prize – Crockett Guenther Best Individual Carcass 3rd Place Individual Carcass – Bailey Kubecka and Clint Kubecka 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Trinity Hernandez and Jenna Stevenson Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $250 prize – Kennedy Wilhelm and McKinley Wilhelm Best Pen Steer Points 3rd Place Carcass Pen – Trinity Hernandez and Jenna Stevenson 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Baiden Beavers Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $250 prize – Kennedy Wilhelm and McKinley Wilhelm Top Rookie Award 2nd Place Rookie – Tate Fritsch Top Rookie and winner of a $250 prize – Bailey Kubecka and Tatum Fritsch Senior Division Results Best Written Exam 3rd Place Written Exam – Jake Ressler and Logan Kainer 2nd Place Written Exam – Emma Stevenson 1st Place Exam and winner of a $500 prize – Kade Lawrence Best Interview 3rd Place Interview – Ryan Janak 2nd Place Interview – Kade Lawrence Best Interview and winner of a $500 prize – Emma Stevenson Best Individual Carcass 3rd Place Individual Carcass – Cason Cribbs, Quannah Dudley and Ryan Janak 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Kade Davis and Ryan Janak Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $500 prize – Logan Kainer, Pierce Wilhelm and Kade Zinnate Best Pen Steer Points 3rd Place Carcass Pen – Ryan Janak 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Cason Cribbs and Quannah Dudley Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $500 prize – Pierce Wilhelm Top Rookie Award 3rd Place Rookie – Macey Putska 2nd Place Rookie – Logan Kainer Top Rookie and winner of a $500 prize – Ryan Janak
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 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 
Students from across the state made their way to the campus of West Texas A&M University on Friday, July 30, to showcase their skills and knowledge at the 2021 TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge.
This annual contest gives third-12th grade students the opportunity to gain industry knowledge and practical experience in commercial cattle feeding. Students feed a pen of three steers, take a written test and compete in interviews and oral presentations. Cattle performance points are also figured into the score to determine the winners. Students compete for a combined $20,000 in college scholarships along with trophy buckles and plaques.
The Senior Overall Champion of the contest and winner of a $5,000 scholarship was Caraline Dudley of Centerville. Senior Reserve Champion and winner of a $3,000 scholarship was Luke Bludau of Hallettsville. The First Runner-Up and winner of a $2,000 scholarship was Leroy Robert Stavinoha III of Eagle Lake.
In the Junior Division, Jake Ressler of Hallettsville was named the Overall Champion and received a $350 scholarship.
Jake Ressler, Hallettsville Junior Division Overall Champion
Senior Division: Best Written Exam
3rd Place Written Exam – Luke Bludau, Hallettsville; Emily Ecord, Pennington; Grant Kubala, Schulenburg; Kade Lawrence, Canyon 2nd Place Written Exam – Caraline Dudley, Centerville; Macy Lawrence, Canyon 1st Place Exam and winner of a $500 prize – Leroy Robert Stavinoha, Eagle Lake Senior Division: Best Interview 3rd Place Interview – Emily Ecord, Pennington 2nd Place Interview – Caraline Dudley, Centerville Best Interview and winner of a $500 prize – Kade Lawrence, Canyon Senior Division: Best Individual Carcass 3rd Place Individual Carcass – Brett Heitschmidt, Nazareth; Ryan Heitschmidt, Nazareth; Cade Parnell, Houston; Luke Bludau, Hallettsville; Landon Koehne, Schulenburg; Jett Long, Yoakum; James Golla, College Station; Emily Ecord, Pennington 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Alexis Whitely, Sanger; Ty Whitely, Sanger; Lane Golla, New Braunfels Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $500 prize – Clayton Stevenson, Earth; Brayden Smith, Blair; James Golla, New Braunfels Senior Division: Best Pen Steer Points 3rd Place Carcass Pen – Lane Golla, New Braunfels 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Clayton Stevenson, Earth Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $500 prize – Brayden Smith, Blair Senior Division: Top Rookie Award 3rd Place Rookie – Clay Aborn, Spearman 2nd Place Rookie – Emily Ecord, Pennington Top Rookie and winner of a $500 prize – Caraline Dudley, Centerville Junior Division: Best Written Exam 3rd Place Written Exam – Levi Golla, New Braunfels 2nd Place Written Exam – Kilian Leheska, Canyon 1st Place Exam and winner of a $250 prize – Alexandra Kelley, New Braunfels Junior Division: Best Presentation 3rd Place Presentation – Malley Ecord, Pennington; Levi Golla, New Braunfels; Kilian Leheska, Canyon 2nd Place Presentation – Emily Valicek, Houston Best Presentation and winner of a $250 prize – Jake Ressler, Hallettsville Junior Division: Best Individual Carcass 3rd Place Individual Carcass – Jenna Stevenson, Earth; Tilden Smith, Blair; Abby Ressler, Hallettsville; Rileigh Golla, College Station; Riggin Mosimann, Kim; Cash Cribbs, Fluvanna; Holly Ressler, Hallettsville; Sorrel Mosimann, Kim; Noah Preston, Abilene; Jake Ressler, Hallettsville; Cason Cribbs, Fluvanna 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Bailen Kocurek, Caldwell Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $250 prize – Wyatt Johnson, Panhandle; Baiden Beavers, Dalhart Junior Division: Best Pen Steer Points 3rd Place Carcass Pen – Cash Cribbs, Fluvanna; Cason Cribbs, Fluvanna; Noah Preston, Abilene 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Bailen Kocurek, Caldwell Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $250 prize – Tilden Smith, Blair Junior Division: Top Rookie Award 2nd Place Rookie – Emily Valicek, Houston Top Rookie and winner of a $250 prize – Holly Ressler, Hallettsville
Students from across the state made their way to the campus of West Texas A&M University on Friday, July 24, to showcase their skills and knowledge at the 2020 TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge.
This annual contest gives third-12th grade students the opportunity to gain industry knowledge and practical experience in commercial cattle feeding. Students feed a pen of three steers, take a written test and compete in interviews and oral presentations. Cattle performance points are also figured into the score to determine the winners. Students compete for a combined $20,000 in college scholarships along with trophy buckles and plaques.
The Senior Overall Champion of the contest and winner of a $5,000 scholarship was Luke Bludau of Hallettsville. Senior Reserve Champion and winner of a $3,000 scholarship was Macy Lawrence of Canyon. The First Runner-Up and winner of a $2,000 scholarship was Grant Kubala of Schulenburg.
In the Junior Division, Emma Stevenson of Earth was named the Overall Champion and received a $350 scholarship.
Senior Division: Best Written Exam
3rd Place Written Exam – Macy Lawrence, Canyon 2nd Place Written Exam – Gavin Kubala, Schulenburg; Grant Kubala, Schulenburg 1st Place Exam and winner of a $500 prize – Luke Bludau, Hallettsville 
Senior Division: Best Interview
3rd Place Interview – Hayden Holwick, McLean ; Kade Lawrence, Canyon 2nd Place Interview – AnneMarie Metzler, Cotton Center Best Interview and winner of a $500 prize – Macy Lawrence, Canyon 
Senior Division: Best Individual Carcass
3rd Place Individual Carcass – AnneMarie Metzler, Cotton Center; Clayton Stevenson, Earth 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Shelby Berckenhoff, Hallettsville; Brayden Smith, Blair Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $500 prize – Clayton Stevenson, Earth 
Senior Division: Best Pen Steer Points
3rd Place Carcass Pen – James Golla, College Station; Lane Golla, New Braunfels 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Clayton Stevenson, Earth Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $500 prize – Brayden Smith, Blair 
Senior Division: Top Rookie Award
3rd Place Rookie – Jett Long, Yoakum 2nd Place Rookie – Hayden Holwick, McLean Top Rookie and winner of a $500 prize – Brayden Smith, Blair 
Junior Division: Best Written Exam
3rd Place Written Exam – Alexandra Kelley, New Braunfels 2nd Place Written Exam – Kaydence Hood, Stratford 1st Place Exam and winner of a $250 prize – Jake Ressler, Hallettsville; Emma Stevenson, Earth
Junior Division: Best Presentation
3rd Place Presentation – Jenna Stevenson, Earth 2nd Place Presentation – Levi Golla, New Braunfels; Kaydence Hood, Stratford; Alexandra Kelley, New Braunfels Best Presentation and winner of a $250 prize – Emma Stevenson, Earth 
Junior Division: Best Individual Carcass
3rd Place Individual Carcass – Jenna Stevenson, Earth 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Landon Koehne, Hallettsville; Abby Ressler, Hallettsville; Walton Marshall, Midland; Virginia Stevenson, Bushland Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $250 prize – Levi Golla, New Braunfels; Lexi Golla, New Braufels; Luke Golla, New Braunfels; Jenna Stevenson, Earth
Junior Division: Best Pen Steer Points
3rd Place Carcass Pen – Alexandra Kelley, New Braunfels 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Jenna Stevenson, Earth Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $250 prize – Levi Golla, New Braunfels; Lexi Golla, New Braunfels; Luke Golla, New Braunfels
Junior Division: Top Rookie Award
2nd Place Rookie – Landon Koehne, Hallettsville Top Rookie and winner of a $250 prize – Kaydence Hood, Stratford  Students from across the state made their way to the campus of West Texas A&M University on Friday, July 26, to showcase their skills and knowledge at the 2019 TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge. This annual contest gives third-12th grade students the opportunity to gain industry knowledge and practical experience in commercial cattle feeding. Students feed a pen of three steers, take a written test and compete in interviews and oral presentations. Cattle performance points are also figured into the score to determine the winners. Students compete for a combined $20,000 in college scholarships along with trophy buckles and plaques. The Senior Overall Champion of the contest and winner of a $5,000 scholarship was Leroy Stavinoha of Eagle Lake. Senior Reserve Champion and winner of a $3,000 scholarship was Will Hauerland of Columbus. The First Runner-Up and winner of a $2,000 scholarship was Macy Lawrence of Canyon. In the Junior Division, Kade Lawrence was named the Overall Champion and received a $350 scholarship.  Senior Division: Best Written Exam 3rd Place Written Exam – Luke Bludau 2nd Place Written Exam – Emily Heitschmidt 1st Place Exam and winner of a $500 prize – Leroy Stavinoha Senior Division: Best Interview 3rd Place Interview – J’Cee Faith Petty 2nd Place Interview – Clayton Stevenson Best Interview and winner of a $500 prize – Macy Lawrence Senior Division: Best Individual Carcass 3rd Place Individual Carcass – Lane Golla, Will Hauerland, Leroy Stavinoha, Annemarie Metzler, J’Cee Faith Petty, Justin Schumacher, David Schoenemann and Kady Weatherford 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Shelby Berckenhoff and Luke Bludau Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $500 prize – Winston Stevenson Senior Division: Best Pen Steer Points 3rd Place Carcass Pen – Annemarie Metzler 2nd Place Carcass Pen – J’Cee Faith Petty and Justin Schumacher Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $500 prize – Winston Stevenson Senior Division: Top Rookie Award 3rd Place Rookie – Edwin Alexander Valicek 2nd Place Rookie – Annemarie Metzler Top Rookie and winner of a $500 prize – J’Cee Faith Petty Junior Division: Best Written Exam 3rd Place Written Exam – Kade Lawrence 2nd Place Written Exam – Kilian Leheska 1st Place Exam and winner of a $250 prize – Grant Kubala Junior Division: Best Presentation 3rd Place Presentation – Emma Stevenson, Grant Kubala, Hope Gleghorn 2nd Place Presentation – Brett Heitschmidt Best Presentation and winner of a $250 prize – Kade Lawrence Junior Division: Best Individual Carcass 3rd Place Individual Carcass – Cydney Kirkland and Samantha Unruh 2nd Place Individual Carcass – Alexandra Kelley and Ty Rogers Top Individual Carcass and winner of a $250 prize – Jake Ressler Junior Division: Best Pen Steer Points 3rd Place Carcass Pen – Cydney Kirkland 2nd Place Carcass Pen – Alexandra Kelley Top Carcass Pen and winner of a $250 prize – Ty Rogers Junior Division: Top Rookie Award 2nd Place Rookie – Samantha Unruh Top Rookie and winner of a $250 prize – Reese Wilson
The 2019 Junior Fed Beef Career and Leadership Program better known as "Feedyard Camp" wrapped up June 28 at West Texas A&M University. Hosted with Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension and WTAMU, the four-day camp is designed for high school juniors and seniors with an interest in pursuing a career in the fed beef industry.
Students went through an application process to be selected to participate in the program. This year’s program consisted of 19 students from Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and South Dakota.
Throughout the four-day program, students observed a necropsy, visited a feedyard, toured a beef processing facility, received media training, toured the WTAMU Research Feedlot and Nance Ranch, gained knowledge from a feedyard industry professional panel and more.
“Feedyard camp gives students with an interest in agriculture a truly one-of-a-kind experience,” said Brady Miller, TCFA director of market and membership. “The Amarillo area has a strong and diverse beef community, which makes it ideal for a camp like this. With feedyards, research and beef processing facilities all right here, we can give students interested in the beef industry a comprehensive learning experience that they will never forget.”
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