The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo™ completed its Junior Breeding Beef Heifer Show: British and Continental Champion Drive on Saturday, March 9.
Judge Mark Hoge took responsibility for choosing the best British heifers. These breeds included Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, Polled Hereford and Shorthorn. Chris Sankey judged the Continental heifers, including Charolais, Chianina, Limousin, Maine-Anjou, Simmental and Other Registered Breeds.
While most breed champions were selected on Friday, March 8, the three remaining breed champions, Shorthorn, Limousin and Chianina, were chosen on Saturday at noon, followed by the Supreme British and Continental Championship.
“I’m a first-impression person. The cattle have to hit me hard in class, they have to hit me hard in division, and then they have to come out this afternoon and hit me just as hard,” Hoge said on his decision while choosing Wyatt DeBerry from Lamb County 4-H with his heifer, Pin Up Gal, as the British Supreme Division Champion.
With 40 years of experience at the HLSR, Sankey said, “This has been an outstanding set of cattle, an outstanding set of exhibitors, a great place to come spend our time. And I hope you young exhibitors realize to value what you’ve done out here and to value standing in the ring in Houston.”
Sankey made the decision to place Avery Fincher from Ellis County 4-H as Continental Supreme Division Champion with her heifer, Ellie May.
Feeling “awesome” after her win, Fincher said she goes to her barn often and works with her heifer and pigs for an hour a day. She has competed at the HLSR for four years. “I felt really happy ‘cause she [Ellie May] was acting really bad, so I didn’t think I was gonna win ‘cause of how bad she was acting but then I ended up with the win,” Fincher said.
2024 Junior Breeding Heifer Show – Show D Winners:
Champion Shorthorn Heifer of Show
- Grand – Aubrey Ramos, Andrews County 4-H
- Reserve Grand – Emilee Munchrath, Graford FFA
British Supreme Division Champion
- Grand – Wyatt DeBerry, Lamb County 4-H, Angus
- Reserve Grand – Landry Allan, Prairie Valley FFA, Hereford
Champion Limousin Heifer of Show
- Grand – Beau London, Tioga FFA
- Reserve Grand – Bentley London, Tioga FFA
Champion Chianina Heifer of Show
- Grand – Avery Fincher, Ellis County 4-H
- Reserve Grand – Harper Simpson, Merkel FFA
Continental Supreme Division Champion
- Grand – Avery Fincher, Ellis County 4-H, Chianina
- Reserve Grand – Kade Stuckley, Pilot Point FFA, Simmental
About the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo promotes agriculture by hosting an annual, family-friendly experience that educates and entertains the public, supports Texas youth, showcases Western heritage, and provides year-round educational support within the community. Since its beginning in 1932, the Rodeo has committed more than $600 million to the youth of Texas and education. The 2024 Rodeo is scheduled for Feb. 27 – March 17. The 2024 World’s Championship Bar-B-Que Contest, presented by Cotton Holdings, is scheduled for Feb. 22 – 24. For more information, visit rodeohouston.com and follow @RODEOHOUSTON online via Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram and YouTube for all the latest news.