OKLAHOMA CITY — The competition was fierce as National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) members paraded through the Jim Norick Arena during the junior Hereford show, Thursday, Jan. 7, at the inaugural 2021 Cattlemen’s Congress in Oklahoma City. Shane Werk, Manhattan, Kan., sorted the 274-head show.

Lauren May, Mineral Point, Wis., exhibited the polled champion female, PURPLE HB LMAY Star 189G. She is an Aug. 12, 2019, daughter of UPS Sensation 2296 ET and was first named champion senior heifer calf.

The horned champion female was awarded to Mason Allan, Nocona, Texas, with KOLT GARW Candi Stock 25 ET. The champion spring yearling female is an April 22, 2019, daughter of B&C Stock Option 6026D ET.

The polled reserve champion female title went to Will, Thomas and Ben Freking, Alpha, Minn., with ECR MC LDSC Flo’s 1928 ET. The champion spring yearling female was born April 30, 2019, and sired by H Montgomery 7437 ET. The Frekings continued their success in the horned show, taking home the horned reserve champion
female banner with H BL Miss Spice 938 ET. The March 18, 2019, female sired by H Deberard 7454 ET also came out of the spring yearling female division behind Allan’s entry.

Judge Werk, who grew up in the breed and is a past NJHA chairman, remarked on the impressiveness of the quality exhibitions and congratulated Hereford breeders on the breed’s progress.

“I commend these junior exhibitors on the depth of quality that was showcased today,” he says. “My true compliments to these folks for breeding these cattle, and the young people for getting them ready. It’s been a pleasure working with these courteous young individuals. This breed is made up of great cattle and great kids.”