Students Compete in 2019 TCFA Junior Fed Beef Challenge

8/2/2019

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.

Leroy Stavinoha; Eagle Lake, Texas

Will Hauerland; Columbus, Texas

Macy Lawrence; Canyon, Texas

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

Luke Bludau; Hallettsville, Texas

Emily Heitschmidt; Nazareth, Texas

Leroy Stavinoha; Eagle Lake, Texas

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

J'Cee Faith Petty; Adrian, Texas

Clayton Stevenson; Earth, Texas

Macy Lawrence; Canyon, Texas

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

Back L to R: Justin Schumacher, Dalhart; David Schoenemann, Caldwell; Will Hauerland, Columbus; Leroy Stavinoha, Eagle Lake; Lane Tindel, Honey Grove Bottom L to R: Kady Weatherford, Hamilton; Annemarie Metzler, Cotton Center; J'Cee Faith Petty, Adrian

Shelby Berckenhoff; Hallettsville, Texas

Luke Bludau; Hallettsville, Texas

Winston Stevenson; Bushland, Texas

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

Annemarie Metzler; Cotton Center

J'Cee Faith Petty; Adrian, Texas

Justin Schumacher; Dalhart, Texas

Winston Stevenson; Bushland, Texas

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

Edwin Alexander Valicek; Houston, Texas

Annemarie Metzler; Cotton Center, Texas

J'Cee Faith Petty; Adrian, Texas

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

Kade Lawrence; Canyon, Texas

Kilian Leheska; Canyon, Texas

Grant Kubala; Schulenburg, Texas

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

Emma Stevenson; Earth, Texas

Grant Kubala; Schulenburg, Texas

Hope Gleghorn; Amarillo, Texas

Brett Heitschmidt; Nazareth, Texas

Kade Lawrence; Canyon, Texas

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

Cydney Kirkland; Vega, Texas

Samantha Unruh; Stratford, Texas

Alexandra Kelley; New Braunfels, Texas

Ty Rogers; Rockwall, Texas

Jake Ressler; Hallettsville, Texas

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