July 17, 2024
Grand and champion division IV bred-and-owned bull, Riley Rhodes, Carlinville, Ill., with RGR 15F HR Leonidas 2L ET, a Jan. 22, 2023, son of CH High Roller 756 ET.
GRAND ISLAND. Neb. – Riley Rhodes, Carlinville, Ill., hoofed it to the winner’s circle with his grand champion bred-and-owned bull, RGR 15F HR Leonidas 2L ET, at the 25th annual VitaFerm® Junior National Hereford Expo, “Grand Daddy of ‘Em All,” on July 10 in Grand Island, Neb.
The bred-and-owned bull show was sponsored by Genesource, Nocona, Texas.
Brigham Stewart, Washington, Kan., sorted the bred-and-owned bull show. Stewart evaluated 86 bulls to find Rhodes’ winning entry, RGR 15F HR Leonidas 2L ET, a Jan. 22, 2023, son of CH High Roller 756 ET. He first won division IV.
Hollis Fawcett, Ree Heights, S.D., grabbed the reserve grand champion bred-and-owned bull banner with HDF Catapult 3503 ET, an April 7, 2023, son of CRR 719 Catapult 109. Fawcett’s entry was also named reserve champion division IV bred-and-owned bull.
“These kids have raised a tremendous set of bulls,” Stewart said. “They look good, they shape up good, their structure and build are incredible for the shape they are in … It’s bar none. You’d be hard-pressed to go to any other junior nationals and find the consistency and as many good ones as you guys brought here today.”
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The 2024 VitaFerm®Junior National Hereford Expo, “The Grand Daddy of ’Em All,” was sponsored in part by BioZyme Inc., St. Joseph, Mo. The National Junior Hereford Association (NJHA) is one of the most active junior programs in the country with more than 4,000 members. The NJHA’s mission is to create and promote enthusiasm for the breed while providing opportunities through leadership, education and teamwork. For more information about the NJHA, visit JrHereford.org.