AWARDS BANQUET HIGHLIGHTS
Awards and prizes filled the stage as families gathered to commemorate an unusual year at the annual Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) awards banquet held on May 1 at the Ohio State Fairgrounds in Columbus.
Many BEST exhibitors were awarded for their show success, cattle industry knowledge, photography skills, community service efforts and more. Over $100,000 worth of prizes, giveaways, scholarships, etc. were handed out throughout the night.
The banquet kicked off with the annual Ronald McDonal House Charities (RMHC) donation. BEST exhibitors raised money earlier in the year through the Celebrity Showdown and collected pop tabs all year.
The hot drawings were the BEST trailer, the Buckeye Breeders Series (BBS) trailer (both donated by M.H. EBY) and the BBS John Deere Gator (donated by Ag-Pro). The winners of these prizes receive a full year’s use of the item (pictured below).
The Novice Division of BEST includes first year participants. All Novice exhibitors were given an entry into their own drawing for every animal they showed at each show throughout the season. This year’s prize was a grooming chute donated by Weaver Leather Livestock (pictured below)!
Maximus Krempasky
Maximus won the drawing for the EBY trailer where one lucky winner gets pulled each year!
Josie Kidwell
Josie's name was drawn for the 2nd EBY trailer that is awarded to a participant who exhibits cattle in the Buckeye Breeders Series - Ohio's bred, born and raised division of BEST!
Windy ridge farm
Breeders who have cattle shown in the Buckeye Breeders Series get rewarded too! Each breeder has their name entered into a drawing for a Gator donated by Ag-Pro and this year's lucky winner was Windy Ridge Farm.
Olivia Wood
Each year, Weaver Leather Livestock donates a prize for first year BEST participants in the Novice Division drawing. Olivia Wood was chosen as this year's lucky winner!
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio Donation
Each year, BEST kids raise money to show in the Celebrity Showdown at the Clark County Cattle Battle. For this event, participants raise money from family and friends in order to dress up themselves, and their cattle, in costumes and show off in the ring! Winners are then chosen by a "celebrity" judge. This year's judge was Autumn Regula.
Throughout the year, BEST kids will also collect pop tabs that are compiled at the banquet, taken to the recycling center, and the money is then donated to Ronald McDonald House.
Over 1,280 pounds of pop tabs were accumulated and this year’s donation total was $23,467!
showmanship awards
The cowhide rugs were a certainly a hit! These were given away to the top 10 showmanship participants in each division.
different awards
Boot bags, belt buckles, cowhide clocks, blankets & more were all given away to different winners throughout the night! The photos in the pictures were taken by BEST participants who then entered their work into the photography contest.
directors chairs
These chairs were given to winners of each breed division in the Buckeye Breeders Series - Ohio's bred, born and raised division of BEST!
door prizes
Many drawings were held throughout the night for BEST attendees to have the opportunity to win some cool prizes donated by Weaver Leather Livestock!
Thank you to our 2020-2021 Sponsoring Partners!
The 2020-2021 sponsoring partners for the BEST program were Ag-Pro Companies and John Deere, Bob Evans Farms, Dickson Cattle Co., D&E Electric - The Young Family, M.H. EBY Inc., Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio Farm Bureau, The Folks Printing, Frazier Farms, Jones Show Cattle, R.D. Jones Excavating and Weaver Leather Livestock.
Thank you, 2020-2021 Sponsoring Partners!
