Ohio BEST Program Wraps Up 2004 Season

The 2004 Ohio Cattlemen’s Association BEST (Beef Exhibitor Show Total) Program wrapped up on June 11, 2004 with its annual awards banquet held at the Clark County  Fairground in Springfield. Several representatives of the program’s corporate sponsor, Steve R. Rauch Excavation and Demolition of Dayton, were on hand to help with the presentation of nearly $23,000 worth of awards in the form of U.S. Savings Bonds, luggage, clothing and show supplies. In addition, Scott Puzacke of Tuscarawas County was the lucky winner of a full year’s use of an 8’ x 20’ Wrangler livestock trailer donated by Eby Trailers as a result of a BEST participant drawing based on the number of shows and entries each participant had throughout the November through April season.
The 2004 BEST program featured 19 sanctioned shows and weaved its way across the state, from as far west as Montgomery County to as far east as Belmont. A record of nearly 500 head of cattle and almost 300 youth were entered in the program. Madison Clark of Covington exhibited the 2004 Champion High Percentage Maine-Anjou Female. Madison’s heifer, DDKC Kristie’s Kagney, is a Feb. 21, 2003 daughter of Calberta Black Impact. Double Double K Cattle of Ohio bred the female. In addition, Madison was the champion beginner showman. Madison’s parents are Scott and Shannon Clark. Alexis Johnson of East Liberty exhibited the 2004 Reserve Champion High Percentage Maine-Anjou Female. Alexis’s heifer, FSJC Campbell Lucky Lady is a Feb. 24, 2003 daughter of Strictly Business. Monahan Farm in Wisconsin bred the female. Additionally, Alexis was 6th overall junior showman for the season. Alexis’s parents are Tod and Tonya Johnson.
The 2004 Champion MaineTainer Female was shown by Paige Kiesewetter of Piqua. Paige’s heifer, Nicole is an April 6, 2003 daughter of Strictly Business. Mike Taylor and family, Indiana, bred the female. Paige was also the 3rd overall beginner showman for the year. Paige’s parents
are Fred and Julie Kiesewetter.
The 2004 Reserve Champion MaineTainer Female was exhibited by Ben Martindale of Cedarville. Ben’s heifer, BDF Lucky Lady 4N is a March 2, 2003 daughter of Strictly Business. Agle’s Beaverdale Farm in Ohio bred the female. Ben was the champion intermediate showman. Ben’s parents are Greg and Gail Martindale.
Leah Geuy of Conover exhibited the 2004 Champion Maine-Anjou Steer. Leah’s steer NER Wholio 501N is sired by Who Made Who and was bred by Neer Show Cattle in Ohio. Leah was the 3rd overall junior showman for 2004. Leah’s parents are Steve and Debra Geuy.
The 2004 Reserve Champion Maine-Anjou Steer was awarded to Hans Baltzly of Navarre. Hans’ steer, Broker, is sired by Strictly Business and was bred by Marci McDonnell of Ohio. Hans is the son of Nathan and Elisabeth Baltzly.
BEST is a youth program of the Ohio Cattlemen’s Association that recognizes Ohio’s junior beef exhibitors through a series of shows, sponsored by Steve R. Rauch
Excavation and Demolition of Dayton. Juniors who participate in these sanctioned shows earn points for their placings at each show. The OCA BEST program promotes educating Ohio’s juniors about the beef industry’s issues and rewards the successful accomplishments and hard work of those junior beef producers. For further information, contact Terri Smith
at (614) 873-6736.