Ten 4-H and FFA members from Braxton County traveled to the WV Beef Expo to participate in the Stockman’s Contest April 8. They were among a total of 368 seniors and 73 juniors; 79 complete senior teams (4 members) and 12 junior teams that participated in the contest.
Braxton County was represented by 6 4-H members in the junior age division (younger than 14 years old). The Braxton County 4-H junior team of Austin Armentrout, Elliott Armentrout, Kalab Wayne and Michael Wayne finished 7th in the junior competition. Eli Friend and Joel Lipscomb also participated in the Junior Division. Individually in the Junior Division, Kalab Wayne was 4th, Joel Lipscomb was 22nd and Michael Wayne was 27th.
Four Braxton County 4-H and FFA members participated in the Senior Division (14 to 18 years old). Fifth place honors were awarded to the team of Kasey Armentrout, Ellen Collins, Talan Hamric and Stephanie Singleton. Top finishers from Braxton County in the Senior Division were Ellen Collins placing 2nd and Talan Hamric placing 38th.
The youth were coached by Debbie Friend, WVU-Braxton County Extension Agent. At the Stockman’s Contest, participants rank classes of 4 beef cattle in order from best to worst; grade 5 feeder cattle; complete quality assurance and sire selection activities; identify plants and retail cuts of beef; answer 5 questions about the beef cattle they judged and 10 questions about the beef industry. The Stockman’s Contest is held annually at the WV Beef Expo at Jackson’s Mill.
The participants and their coach would like to thank Hamric Farms for hosting a practice.