Click here to download complete 2019-20 BEST program results.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 13, 2020

For More Information:   
Ohio Cattlemen’s Association
614-873-6736 or [email protected]                                                                 

(MARYSVILLE, Ohio) – The 2019-20 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association’s (OCA) BEST program recently wrapped up this year’s awards celebration via social media. Last fall, when the BEST season started no one could foresee the devastation the COVID-19 pandemic would inflict as it has upended lives around the world. The BEST program incurred its share of damage with the cancellation of the Ohio Beef Expo, the season’s last point show, as well as the awards banquet previously scheduled for May 2.    

However, this year’s Superhero theme was truly fitting as OCA started on May 2, as originally planned, to recognize the perseverance of the Superhero BEST participants and this year’s award winners on OCA’s social media. OCA kept the momentum going as it recognized Character Trait award recipients, the Novice winner and the winner of the Eby trailer drawing. All program awards are on par with previous years and in addition, each participant will be receiving a hoodie commemorating their year. The OCA office will be shipping each of these awards to their deserving recipients. 

The awards for the season are possible thanks to the program's sponsoring partners.  Their commitment to Ohio’s cattle showing youth are the cornerstone of the program’s amazing success. Belt buckles, luggage, show materials and other awards will be shipped to the winners in each of their respective divisions. 

The BEST Sponsoring Partners for 2019-2020 were Ag-Pro – John Deere, Bob Evans Farms, M.H. EBY, Frazier Farms, Farm Credit Mid–America, Garwood Arena, Kalmbach Feeds – Formula of Champions, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and Weaver Leather Livestock. 

“Even a pandemic cannot overshadow the pride we have in the accomplishments of this year’s BEST participants, both in and out of the show ring,” said Elizabeth Harsh, OCA Executive Director. “We sincerely appreciate the BEST program’s sponsoring partners whose tremendous support makes this youth development program possible.”  

This year’s BEST program featured 10 sanctioned shows that wove their way across the state. Over 507 youth participants showed 663 head of market animals and heifers throughout the course of the 2019-2020 program. 

The introduction of the stockmanship division was a highlight of this year’s BEST program. The addition of the stockmanship division provided an opportunity for youth to participate who don’t show cattle and allowed them to demonstrate their animal husbandry skills and knowledge. It included the following competitions: quiz bowl, sales contest, and fitting contest. The judging contest component was cancelled with the Ohio Beef Expo. The BEST program will build upon the success of this new division further enhancing it for the 2020-21 season.  

BEST Committee 

The OCA BEST program functions with the strong backing of the BEST Committee. Serving on the BEST Committee are Chairman – Todd Pugh, Stark County; Vice-Chairman – Mark Hara, Franklin County; Erin Alava, Hancock County; Drew Baus, Wood County; Doug Blay, Portage County; Brandon Corry, Greene County; Alice Frazier, Jackson County; Chase Gostomsky, Darke County; Kim Herman, Allen County; Roger Hunker, Huron County; Matt Kleski, Franklin County; Sally Puzacke, Tuscarawas County; Shane Riley, Fayette County; Mindy Sanders, Highland County; Trevor Tom, Muskingum County; Skylar Plank, BEST Show Representative and Bill Tom, Ohio State Fair Beef Director. The new junior representatives for the 2020–2021 season are Grace England, Portage County; Courtney Hamilton, Clark County; and McKenzie Riley, Fayette County. Continuing for their second term is Ellie Kidwell, Knox County and Owen Brinker, Wood County. Brooke Egbert, Auglaize County, Madison King, Logan County and Haley Frazier, Jackson County have fulfilled their commitment as BEST Junior representatives. 

Youth Scholarships

BEST participants’ efforts in academics and extracurricular activities are also recognized through the BEST Scholarship program. This year’s three $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Macy Burchett, Madison County; Allison Davis, Carroll County; and Mekenzie Jolliff, Hardin County. 

M.H. EBY Trailer Winner 

Participants in this year’s program received an entry into the drawing for the free use of an 8’ x 24’ EBY Trailer, complete with BEST logo detailing for the 2020-2021 BEST season, donated by EBY Trailer. Participants were given an entry for every animal they showed at each show throughout the season. The lucky winner was Brooke Stottsberry of Noble County. 

Community Service Fundraising

Throughout the season, our Superhero BEST participants continued their community service focus as they raised over $20,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Central Ohio. In addition, many BEST families are continuing to support the RMHC with their own individual donations. 

Character Traits Winners  

The Ohio Cattlemen's Association (OCA) and Weaver Leather Livestock teamed up to recognize individuals that are exceptional leaders, no matter their age. Weaver Leather Livestock sponsored the 2020 BEST Character awards, highlighting focus, teachable, attitude, kindness and boldness. Any OCA member, BEST participant or their parents could nominate other cattlemen, breeders or exhibitors for any of the Character Traits. Gavin Richards, Wood County and Haleigh Stephens, Ashland County were recognized for their focus. Russell Fox, Seneca County; Colton Musser, Logan County; and Taylor Poff, Geauga County were recognized for their being teachable. Emily Musser, Logan County was noted for her attitude. Madison King, Logan County was recognized for her kindness. Lastly, Shayla Sancic, Stark County and Courtney Hamilton, Clark County were awarded for their boldness.  

Novice Showbox Drawing 

Novice participant, Emma Grafft of Butler County, won a new showbox in a novice-only drawing, donated by Weaver Leather Livestock. Novice participants were given an entry for every animal they showed at each show throughout the season. 

BREED DIVISION CHAMPIONS 

Angus Heifers
Champion – Marcus VanVorhis, Wood County
Reserve Champion - Taylor Ayars, Champaign County 

Angus Steers Champion – Peyton Bumgardner, Clark County 

Charolais Heifers
Champion - Ellis Davis, Highland County
Reserve Champion - Kathy Lehman, Richland County 

Charolais Steers
Champion - Madison Riley, Fayette County
Reserve Champion - Kya Csapo, Wayne County 

% Charolais Heifers
Champion - Mackenzie Neal, Preble County
Reserve Champion - Luke Kiefer, Butler County 

Chianina Heifers
Champion - Kathy Lehman, Richland County
Reserve Champion - Wyatt Binckley, Licking County

Chianina Steers
Champion - Jacob Levering, Morrow County
Reserve Champion - Shayla Sancic, Stark County
Third Overall - Kendall Bishop, Clark County
Fourth Overall - Luke Schroeder, Defiance County
(TIE) Fifth Overall - Noah Lang, Wood County
(TIE) Fifth Overall - Taylor Poff, Geauga County 

Hereford Heifers
Champion - Maddox Cupp, Fairfield County
Reserve Champion - Alexis Watkins, Wyandot County 

Hereford Steers Champion – Adeline Sorgen, Van Wert County
Reserve Champion - Haillei Jenkins, Champaign County 

High % Maine-Anjou Heifers
Champion - Ethan Davies, Wood County
Reserve Champion - Masen Jolliff, Hardin County 

MaineTainer Heifers
Champion – Allison Davis, Carroll County
Reserve Champion - Darby Ayars, Champaign County
Third Overall - Rebekah Pertuset, Scioto County
Fourth Overall - Joesy Kramer, Licking County
Fifth Overall – Piper Campbell, Preble County 

Maine-Anjou Steers
Champion – Victoria Waits, Fayette County
(TIE) Reserve Champion - Noah Smith, Sandusky County
(TIE) Reserve Champion - Ladson Mathews, Hardin County
Third Overall - Tanner Butcher, Hardin County
Fourth Overall - Colleen Minges, Butler County
Fifth Overall – Blake Smith, Defiance County 

Shorthorn Heifers
Champion - Kolten Greenhorn, Greene County
Reserve Champion – Amanda Annett, Knox County 

Shorthorn Steers
Champion – Kolten Greenhorn, Greene County
Reserve Champion - Gavin Richards, Wood County 

ShorthornPlus Heifers
Champion - Samantha VanVorhis, Wood County
Reserve Champion - Darby Ayars, Champaign County 

ShorthornPlus Steers
Champion - Tatumn Poff, Geauga County
Reserve Champion - Rylan Luyster, Belmont County 

Purebred Simmental Heifers
Champion - Kathy Lehman, Richland County
Reserve Champion - Collin Fedderke, Henry County 

% Simmental Heifers
Champion - Emma McLaughlin, Monroe County
Reserve Champion - Jordan Johnson, Gallia County 

Simmental Steers
Champion – Hayden Belleville, Wood County
Reserve Champion - Madalynn Bruckelmyer, Muskingum County 

Miniature Heifers
Champion - Annabelle Johnson, Preble County
Reserve Champion - Brock Mills, Richland County   

Miniature Steers
Champion - Sara Britton, Wood County
Reserve Champion - David O’Reilly, Geauga County 

High % AOB Heifers
Champion – Trenton Braska, Richland County
Reserve Champion – Audriana Albert, Richland County 

Low % AOB Heifers
Champion – Sydney Sanders, Highland County
Reserve Champion - Lara Rittenhouse, Clark County 

AOB Steers
Champion - Casey Leach, Hocking County
Reserve Champion - Lexi Rittenhouse, Clark County 

Market Heifers
Champion - Elizabeth Gibson, Perry County
Reserve Champion - Wyatt Binckley, Licking County
Third Overall - Luke Fulton, Miami County
Fourth Overall - Karlie Palmer, Clark County
Fifth Overall - Zachery Retcher, Defiance County 

Crossbred Heifers
Champion – Taylor Barton, Clinton County
Reserve Champion - Haley Frazier, Jackson County
Third Overall - Delaney Dudte, Wayne County
(TIE) Fourth Overall - Rylee Bloomfield, Crawford County
(TIE) Fourth Overall - Caden Hess, Highland County
(TIE) Fifth Overall - McKenzie Riley, Fayette County
(TIE) Fifth Overall – Avery Sautter, Sandusky County 

Crossbred Steers
Champion - Haleigh Stephens, Ashland County
Reserve Champion - Hudson Drake, Ross County
Third Overall - Fox Morgan, Perry County
Fourth Overall - Hagan Witt, Greene County
Fifth Overall - Karlie Palmer, Clark County
Sixth Overall – Ryan Waddell, Scioto County
Seventh Overall - Grant Belleville, Wood County
Eighth Overall - Caiden Daugherty, Morrow County
(TIE) Ninth Overall - Aiden Brinker, Coshocton County
(TIE) Ninth Overall - Ladson Mathews, Hardin County
Tenth Overall - Allison Lust, Crawford County 

BEST NOVICE CHAMPIONS 

Heifers
Champion - Miniature, Annabelle Johnson, Preble County
Reserve Champion - Crossbred, Rylee Bloomfield, Crawford County
Third Overall - Crossbred, Avery Sautter, Sandusky County
Fourth Overall -MaineTainer, Joesy Kramer, Licking County
Fifth Overall - Crossbred, Aftyn Graham, Gallia County
Sixth Overall - Charolais, Ellis Davis, Highland County
Seventh Overall - High % AOB, Trenton Braska, Richland County
Eighth Overall - Low % AOB, Lara Rittenhouse, Clark County
Ninth Overall - Crossbred, Carly Leach, Hocking County
Tenth Overall - Crossbred, Landon Moore, Fairfield County 

Market Animals
Champion - Market Heifer, Elizabeth Gibson, Perry County
Reserve Champion - Shorthorn, Gavin Richards, Wood County
Third Overall - Shorthorn, Carston Stephens, Ashland County
Fourth Overall - AOB, Casey Leach, Hocking County
Fifth Overall - Hereford, Haillei Jenkins, Champaign County
Sixth Overall - Crossbred, Hagan Witt, Greene County
Seventh Overall - Charolais, Kya Csapo, Wayne County
Eighth Overall - Angus, Peyton Bumgardner, Clark County
Ninth Overall - Crossbred, Tyler Legge-Bobo, Clark County
Tenth Overall - Crossbred, Jorja Morgan, Gallia County  

BEST BRED & OWNED CHAMPIONS 

Heifers
Champion - Shorthorn, Kolten Greenhorn, Greene County
Reserve Champion - Miniature, Annabelle Johnson, Preble County
Third Overall - MaineTainer, Darby Ayars, Champaign County
Fourth Overall -% Simmental, Mason Love, Fairfield County
Fifth Overall - Purebred Simmental, Collin Fedderke, Henry County 

Market Animals
Champion - Charolais, Delaney Chester, Warren County
Reserve Champion - Shorthorn, Nathan Miller, Erie County
Third Overall - ShorthornPlus, Paige Phillips, Clark County
Fourth Overall - Chianina, Bailey Garwood, Columbiana County
Fifth Overall - ShorthornPlus, Emma Helsinger, Preble County 

BEST SHOWMANSHIP WINNERS 

Beginner
Champion – Kolten Greenhorn, Greene County
Reserve Champion - Gavin Richards, Wood County
Third Overall - Masen Jolliff, Hardin County
Fourth Overall - Hailey Cornett, Highland County
Fifth Overall - Asa Minton, Adams County
Sixth Overall - Kendall Bishop, Clark County
Seventh Overall - Lane Flax, Clark County
Eighth Overall - Avery Sautter, Sandusky County
Ninth Overall – Jorja Morgan, Gallia County
Tenth Overall - Owen Bailey, Wayne County 

Junior
Champion - Wyatt Binckley, Licking County
Reserve Champion - Taylor Barton, Clinton County
Third Overall - Delaney Chester, Warren County
Fourth Overall - Delaney Dudte, Wayne County
Fifth Overall - Taylor Poff, Geauga County
Sixth Overall - Darby Ayars, Champaign County
Seventh Overall - Ashton Bain, Highland County
Eighth Overall - Shae Conrad, Champaign County
Ninth Overall - Logan Schroeder, Defiance County
Tenth Overall - Carly Sanders, Highland County 

Novice
Champion - Joesy Kramer, Licking County
Reserve Champion - Emma Grafft, Butler County
Third Overall - Noah Lang, Wood County
Fourth Overall - Ben Jones, Wood County
Fifth Overall - Lara Rittenhouse, Clark County
Sixth Overall – Anya Demshar, Lake County
Seventh Overall - Jaycee Yelton, Champaign County
Eighth Overall - Luke Jones, Wood County
Ninth Overall - Logan Kremer, Butler County
Tenth Overall - Matthew Hamilton, Clark County 

Intermediate
Champion - Skyler Ward, Preble County
Reserve Champion - Karly Goetz, Ottawa County
Third Overall - Hudson Drake, Ross County
Fourth Overall - Collin Fedderke, Henry County
Fifth Overall - Allison Lust, Crawford County
Sixth Overall - Alyson Simpson, Adams County
Seventh Overall - Sydney Sanders, Highland County
Eighth Overall - Madison Paden, Guernsey County
Ninth Overall - Shayla Sancic, Stark County
(TIE) Tenth Overall - Mackenzie Neal, Preble County
(TIE) Tenth Overall - Kylee Bloomfield, Crawford County 

Senior
Champion - Alyssa Carter, Warren County
Reserve Champion - Caden Hess, Highland County
Third Overall - Haley Frazier, Jackson County
Fourth Overall - Zachery Retcher, Defiance County
Fifth Overall - Jordan Johnson, Gallia County
Sixth Overall – Ellie Kidwell, Knox County
Seventh Overall - Samantha Wallace, Sandusky County
Eighth Overall - Jacob Lebrun, Scioto County
Ninth Overall - Lori Millenbaugh, Crawford County
Tenth Overall - Darcy Howser, Brown County 

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST 

Beginner Division
1st Place Beginner – Connor Yochum, Highland County – “Anything For The Perfect Picture”
2nd Place Beginner – Kolten Greenhorn, Greene County – “Luna and Fuzzy”
3rd Place Beginner – Aftyn Graham, Gallia County – “Spring Has Sprung” 

Junior Division
1st Place Junior – Walker Dixon, Scioto County – “Birth and Beauty”
2nd Place Junior – Emma Yochum, Highland County – “Evening Sunset”
3rd Place Junior – Paige Gehret, Darke County – “The Flowers Are Always Blooming On The Other Side” 

Intermediate Division
1st Place Intermediate – Mason Love, Fairfield County – “Picture Perfect”
2nd Place Intermediate – Brock Retcher, Defiance County – “Trust The Wait”
3rd Place Intermediate – Rachel O’Reilly, Geauga County – “Growing Passion” 

Senior Division
1st Place - Madisen Jolliff, Hardin - “The Heart of a Champion”
2nd Place - Ian Gehret, Darke - “It’s As Simple As Black And White” 
3rd Place - Madison King, Logan - “Forecast: Sunny Skies With A Chance Of Showing Shorties”

Adult Winner
1st Place Adult – Desirae Logsdon, Fairfield County – “Snow Day”
2nd Place Adult – Deanna Pope, Gallia County – “God’s Country”
3rd Place Adult – Rebecca Scott, Portage County – “Purely Content on a Frosty Fall Morning” 

Editor’s Choice Editor’s Choice – 1st Place Intermediate – Mason Love, Fairfield County – “Picture Perfect”
Editor’s Choice Honorable Mention - 1st Place Senior – Madisen Jolliff, Hardin County – “The Heart of a Champion” 

STOCKMANSHIP 

BEGINNER
Champion - Asa Minton, Adams County 
(TIE) Reserve Champion - Blaine Evans, Tuscarawas County 
(TIE) Reserve Champion - Austin Sutherly, Miami County 
Third Overall - Brady Evans, Tuscarawas County 
Fourth Overall - Lexi Rittenhouse, Clark County 
Fifth Overall - Connor Yochum, Highland County 

JUNIOR
(TIE) Champion - Wyatt Osborn, Highland County
(TIE) Champion – Tatumn Poff, Geauga County 
Reserve Champion - Ashton Bain, Highland County 
Third Overall – Carly Sanders, Highland County 
Fourth Overall - Taylor Poff, Geauga County 
Fifth Overall - Alexis Perry, Ottawa County 

NOVICE
Champion - Lara Rittenhouse, Clark County
Reserve Champion - Brock Perry, Ottawa County
Third Overall – Riley Burtchin, Wood County
Fourth Overall -Tyler Legge-Bobo, Clark County
Fifth Overall - Matthew Hamilton, Clark County 

INTERMEDIATE
Champion – Alyson Simpson, Adams County
Reserve Champion - Sydney Sanders, Highland County
Third Overall - Dawson Osborn, Highland County
Fourth Overall - Karly Goetz, Ottawa County
Fifth Overall - Rachel O’Reilly, Geauga County 

SENIOR
Champion - Jacob Lebrun, Scioto County
Reserve Champion - Aubrey Csapo, Wayne County
Third Overall - Colleen Minges, Butler County
Fourth Overall - Tyler Novak, Clark County
Fifth Overall - Courtney Hamilton, Clark County