Several friends and family members gathered at the Oklahoma Capital to Honor the Oklahoma Junior National Champions today. Legislators were on hand along with Ag Secretary Blayne Arthur, OCA’s Michael Kelsey, Heather Buckmaster, the Oklahoma Beef Council, and Governor Kevin Stitt to celebrate the winnings of these young showmen.
At the Capitol, Farm Director, KC Sheperd, had the chance to talk with the Deputy Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Ag, Food, and Forestry, JanLee Rowlett, about a special event recognizing Oklahoma’s youth who have won awards for exhibiting cattle across the country in livestock shows.
“We are here celebrating Oklahoma’s youth that have been exhibiting cattle all summer across the country,” Rowlett said. “We have the National Junior Champion and Reserve Champions from several different breeds represented here. Oklahoma is, of course, a strong livestock state, especially when it comes to those youth programs. We are really fortunate to have so many great cattle and great kids represented here today.”
This experience allows the individuals at the event to get a behind-the-scenes look at the state Capitol, Rowlett said, and meet the Governor, state legislators, and more. Each youth award recipient had the chance to take a photo with Governor Kevin Stitt as he and Ag Secretary Blayne Arthur took the time to congratulate and get to know the families at the event.
“Of course, these are the kid’s accomplishments, but there is always a family that is behind all of their hard work,” Rowlett said.
There were over 30 livestock competitors invited to the event, Rowlett said, many of those representing multiple awards and breeds.
The winners got to take pictures with Governor Kevin Stitt at the Capital and then were treated to lunch at the Governor’s Mansion, where they were able to tour the facilities and received recognition letters from The Governor as well.
“This really does highlight how competitive and just the strength in the youth livestock programs we have in our state,” Rowlett said.
| Exhibitor | Show | Award |
| Jake Cox | Black Hereford Junior National | Supreme Champion |
| Mitchell Barros | National Junior Shorthorn Show | Reserve Bred & Owned Shorthorn Plus Bull |
| Merideth Behrens | National Junior Shorthorn Show | Champion Shorthorn Plus Prospect Steer |
| Addison Dick | National Junior Shorthorn Show | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Shorthorn Plus Prospect Steer |
| Emily Lucas | National Junior Shorthorn Show | Reserve Champion Purebred Prospect Steer |
| Abbi Scott | National Junior Shorthorn Show | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Purebred Prospect Steer |
| Kamden Filippo | National Junior Shorthorn Show | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Purebred Bull |
| Felicia Deloera Nunez | Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Junior Grand Champion Cow/Calf Pair |
| Harlow Driskill | Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Grand Champion Pre-Junior Prospect Steer |
| Deacon James | Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Reserve Champion Pre-Junior Prospect Steer |
| Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Grand Champion Pre- Junior Market Steer | |
| Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Grand Champion Pre- Junior Owned Bull | |
| Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Grand Champion Pre- Junior Female | |
| Kamdyn McKay | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Reserve Champion Prospect Steer |
| Parker Lockhart | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Champion Bred & Owned Prospect Steer |
| Justin Herlan | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Prospect Steer |
| Larahmy Blakley | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Champion Bred & Owned Maine-Anjou Bull |
| Chloee Clark | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Mainetainer Female |
| Elle Moonen | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Maine Angus Female |
| Hunter Morton | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Champion Owned Maine Angus Female |
| Tripp Lewis | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Reserve Champion Owned Maine Angus Female |
| Kelton Arthur | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Reserve Champion Owned Maine-Anjou Female |
| Chloee Clark | Maine-Anjou Junior National | Champion Owned Mainetainer Female |
| Ella Weldon | Chianina Junior National | Champion Owned Chi-Composite Female |
| Brett Pembrook | Chianina Junior National | Reserve Champion Owned Chianina Female |
| Parker Lockhart | Chianina Junior National | Champion Prospect Steer |
| Bryson Pembrook | Chianina Junior National | Champion Bred & Owned Chianina Female |
| Chancee Clark | Chianina Junior National | Champion Bred & Owned Chi-Composite Female |
| Ty Collum | National Junior Angus Show | Champion Owned Heifer |
| Gage Long | National Junior Angus Show | Champion Phenotype & Genotype Heifer |
| Braxton Murray | American Junior Gelbvieh Association Junior Classic | Champion Gelbvieh Bull |
| Klaer Foreman | Charolais Junior National | Champion Progress Steer |
| Jacey Massey | American Junior Simmental Association National Classic | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Purebred Bull |
| Garrett Griswold | American Junior Simmental Association National Classic | Champion Owned Percentage Pair |
| Kale Robison | American Junior Simmental Association National Classic | Champion Bred & Owned Percentage Bull |
| Maggie Griswold | American Junior Simmental Association National Classic | Reserve Champion Owned Purebred Pair |
| Carter Kornegay | National Junior Limousin Show & Congress | Champion Owned Lim-Flex Female |
| Madilyn Norvell | Junior National Hereford Expo | Reserve Champion Bred & Owned Female |
| Ella Weldon | Junior National Hereford Expo | Reserve Champion Cow-Calf Pair |
| Junior National Hereford Expo | Champion Owned Polled Female | |
| Tripp Lewis | Junior National Hereford Expo | Champion Owned Horned Female |
| Kit Pettigrew | Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Reserve Champion Market Steer |
| Kalea Duty | Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Champion Pre-Junior Cow-Calf Pair |
| Emersyn Cate Beratto | Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals | Champion Pre-Junior Bull |
