Over 1,000 Angus juniors and their families traveled to Louisville, Ky., to compete in the 2026 National Junior Angus Show (NJAS) July 11-July 18 at the Kentucky Exposition Center.
National Junior Angus Association (NJAA) members stepped up to the plate for “Bases Loaded in the Bluegrass,” exhibiting 987 entries during the weeklong event that included more than a dozen educational contests along with the cattle show.
Jack Ward, Plattsburg, Mo., judged owned heifers; Carter Ward, also of Plattsburg, Mo., assisted in judging 524 owned heifers; Donnie Robertson, Yukon, Okla., judged the 193 bred-and-owned heifers, 57 bred-and-owned bulls, eight bred-and-owned cow-calf pairs and 19 owned cow-calf pairs; Barry Nowatzke, Michigan City, Ind., assisted in judging the bred-and-owned heifers and bulls, and bred-and-owned and owned cow-calf pairs; Kirk Stierwalt, Leedey, Okla., judged the 69 steers; and Cody Sankey, Economy, Ind., judged the 98 phenotype and genotype heifers and 19 phenotype and genotype bulls.
Ashton Dillow, Villa Ridge, Ill., led the grand champion owned female. PVF Blackbird 5012 is a February 2025 daughter of PVF Marvel 9185 and first won junior champion – division 6.
Josie Phillips, Maysville, Ky., led the reserve grand champion owned female. BNWZ Saras Dream 4796 is an October 2024 daughter of SCC SCH 24 Karat 838 and first won senior champion – division 2.
Madison Fischer, Hempstead, Texas, won third place overall champion owned female with Lazy JB Blackbird Zena 528. She is the May 2025 daughter of Lazy JB Edge 8745 and first claimed intermediate champion – division 3.
Cambria Cook, Clovis, Calif., led the fourth place overall champion owned female. PVF Proven Queen 5053 is the March 2025 daughter of BLC/MLA Omega 2258 and first claimed junior champion – division 3.
Sloan Boyert, Pleasantville, Iowa, captured fifth place overall champion owned female with Boy Proven Queen 5200. She is the September 2025 daughter of Conley A1 and first claimed senior calf champion – division 3.
Anne Dameron, Towanda, Ill., captured grand champion bred-and-owned female honors with Dameron Sandy 5116 and received the Robert and Marillyn Schlutz Angus Scholarship and the John and Lucile Patton Memorial Scholarship. The September 2025 daughter of ROSE MC Encore 0463 first won senior calf champion – division 2.
Ashton Dillow led the reserve grand champion bred-and-owned female, PVF SFA Missie 5096. The May 2025 daughter of PVF Capone 2104 was first named intermediate champion – division 2.
Abigail Koenig, De Leon, Texas, won third place overall champion bred-and-owned female with Koenig Phyllis 0525. She is the May 2025 daughter of Rose MC Encore 0463 and first claimed reserve intermediate champion – division 2.
Houston Ferree, Sullivan, Ind., led the fourth place overall champion bred-and-owned female. Ferree Fitz Phyllis 2515 is the January 2025 daughter of SCC SCH 24 Karat 838 and first claimed junior champion – division 2.
Jack Conley, Sulphur, Okla., captured fifth place overall champion bred-and-owned female with Conley Sandy 4789. She is the November 2024 daughter of Conley A1 and first claimed senior champion.
Clara Henderson, East Troy, Wis., won grand champion bred-and-owned bull honors with Hill Valley Judge 544. The June 2025 son of Young Dale Honour 16H first won intermediate champion.
Mercedes Ferree, Sullivan, Ind., led the reserve grand champion bred-and-owned bull. Ferree Fitz SRF Polaris 5052 is a March 2025 son of Bear Mtn North Star and was first named junior champion.
Cooper Murnin, Pompeys Pillar, Mont., showed the grand champion owned cow-calf pair. Colburn Saras Dream 4919 is a March 2024 daughter of SCC SCH 24 Karat 838 and first topped the young pair division. An April 2026 bull calf sired by BNWZ Dignity 8017 completed the winning duo.
Ava Wood, Willow Spring, N.C., led the reserve grand champion owned cow-calf pair. Dameron Lucy 3151 is a September 2023 daughter of SCC SCH 24 Karat 838. An October 2025 daughter of PVF Marvel 9185 is at side. The pair first won reserve champion young pair.
Houston Ferree claimed grand champion bred-and-owned cow-calf pair and received the Joel Harrison Memorial Angus Scholarship. Ferree Fitz Saras Dream 2423 is the February 2024 daughter of PVF Blacklist 7077. An April 2026 bull calf sired by STAG Good Times 201 ET was at side. The duo first won champion young pair.
Madison Stratton, Appomattox, Va., captured reserve grand champion bred-and-owned cow-calf pair with K & J CCW Lady 9172. The September 2022 daughter of KCF Bennett Const G519 had an October 2025 son of EGF Outlaw 1010 at side. They first won champion mature pair.
Connor Suits, Rantoul, Ill., earned grand champion steer honors with Tef King Pin. He is the January 2025 son of PVF DLX King Pin 0058.
Bryce Hofing, Coatesville, Ind., claimed reserve grand champion steer with HAUGE Kobe 18N. He is a February 2025 son of ROSE MC Encore 0463.
Travis Harder, Holy Cross, Iowa, claimed bred-and owned grand champion steer with HAR Good Times Leo N8. He is a May 2025 son of STAG Good Times 201 ET.
Kinleigh Grim, Thomasville, Pa., earned reserve grand champion bred-and-owned steer with Beaver Creek RIP 569. He is a February 2025 son of Beaver Creek RIP 033.
Drew McCurry, Hutchinson, Kan., showed the grand champion female in phenotype and genotype portion of show. KC Blackcap Lady 5033 is the March 2025 daughter of EXAR Bona Fide and first won division 3 champion.
Brax Friedrich, Stephenville, Texas, showed the reserve grand champion female in phenotype and genotype portion of the show. Gabriel Lady 5558 is the September 2025 daughter of RHI Satisfaction 9L19 and first won division 1 champion.
Gage Long, Vinita, Okla., led the grand champion bred-and-owned female in the phenotype and genotype portion of the show and was presented with John Grime’s Memorial Scholarship. Long Lady 5094 is the December 2025 daughter of Long Teton 107. She first claimed bred-and-owned division 1 champion.
Denton Cook, Foss, Okla., led the reserve grand champion bred-and-owned female in the phenotype and genotype portion of the show. JDD Beauty 122N is the December 2025 daughter of RSA True Balance 1311. She first claimed reserve bred-and-owned division 1 champion.
Allen Heins, New Salem, N.D., showed the grand champion bull in phenotype and genotype portion of the show. VAR Vindictive 5105 is the March 2025 son of Boyd Separation 3019 and first won division 3 champion.
Lauren Wolter, Aviston, Ill., led the reserve grand champion bull in the phenotype and genotype portion of the show. WHM Captain Morgan 5164 is the September 2025 son of E W A Captain. He first claimed division 1 champion.
