Well, another Kiowa County Livestock show is in the books. 2020 has been a crazy year to say the least, with all the prep work to get ready was a completely different task this year.

First, I would like to thank all the kids, parents, and supporters of these great programs. It is so enjoyable to see everyone support the great youth development programs of our county.

This year’s livestock show was sure different and a shock to the system. With snow on the ground Wednesday morning before animal check, it only made sense that this happened in 2020. During check-in, while visiting with some parents, one said that it snowed 18 years ago, another said there was snow in the early 80s. My father said the last time he remembered it snowing was 1949.

I was very nervous about the turnout of kids and livestock due to the weather but, in true Kiowa county fashion, they showed up and toughed out the storm. With snow coming down, the livestock were weighed in. The paperwork was a little wet but, with the help of a tarp after the first set, we could keep it dry.

Again, I am so thankful for all the parents help and support. A special thank you to the Livestock Show Committee for keeping the shows running smoothly, Tim Trosper, Rod Cole, Eric Ellenberger, Trent Jones, Junior McDowell, Mark Nelson, and Michelle Nelson.

To Krystal Eikenberg, thank you for announcing the shows, and keeping track of records and placings. Robin Fox, thank you for helping with keeping records and placings as well.

Next, I will thank the youth for all their hard work not only during fair but the whole year as it has been a tough one. I am proud of everyone’s dedication on reaching your goals. 

I would like to thank our judge for this year, Travis Taylor. He is a fellow extension agent from Yuma County, and the State Officer Team Advisor. I thoroughly enjoy watching him judge and advise the youth about animal selection and how to improve their showmanship skills. The best part is he makes it fun for the youth and gives them something to look forward to next year. 

Another thanks to Brooke Matthew from Otero Junior College, who brought some of her agriculture students up to judge the round robin show for us. I am sorry that I did not get all names of these students, but I would like to thank them too.

I would like to give a big thanks to Lamar Animal Medical Center and Dr. Hannah Larson for donating her time for the vet checks. All Dr. Larson asked was that they be paid for mileage, so another big thank you to David Walker for covering that expense for our youth. 

After all animals were in place Wednesday, a very busy week started. Many of the youth had already been busy before this time washing, trimming, and doing all the prep work that goes into presenting their animals to the best of their ability. 

The 2020 Kiowa County Junior Livestock Premium Sale was a success despite all the COVID obstacles. This year we had six beef, 20 swine, six poultry pens, one rabbit pen, 11 sheep, 28 goat, and one poultry pen for donation up for sale. The total of 73 exhibits brought a total premium sale price of $90,700. This total compared to last year was up by $6,150, and the number of animals was up by two head from 2019.

The six beef projects averaged $2,900 per head. This was a combined sale price, and beef add-on donations from local and surrounding area businesses, with a total of $1,100 per head. First year 4-H member Aubrey Mitchek’s Grand Champion Steer topped the sale with a $3,000 price tag split between Colorado Mills and GN Bank.

Swine averaged $1,215 per head. Ty Wilson’s Grand Champion Swine brought in $1,150 purchased by Rancher’s Supply. Kara Wilson’s swine topped the swine sale with a price tag of $2,350 from Weber Water Services.

The poultry exhibitors expanded this year and averaged $616.66 per pen. The highest bid for a poultry pen went to Carmen McPherson for $900 by 4 River’s Equipment.

The lone rabbit exhibitor, Alexa Nelson, brought in $400 for her Grand Champion rabbit, purchased by La Junta Mill and Elevator.

Sheep sales averaged $1,318.18 per head. Two years in a row, Grand Champion Koree Ellenberger’s lamb sold to Barlow Aerial Spraying for $1,400.

The goats wrap up the sale with an average of $1042.85 per head. For the second year in a row, Spencer Uhland’s Grand Champion goat sold for $1,600 to Scouler Grain.

Rooney Fehr donated a rooster pen to the Kiowa County 4-H Council, selling for $1,200 by Scouler Grain. 

A big THANK YOU to all the buyers and donors for your continued support for the Kiowa County Junior Livestock members! Also, a BIG THANK YOU to Burlington Livestock Exchange for clerking the sale for us again this year! We are fortunate to have this company volunteer their time and resources to our youth to make the sale happen! 

Livestock Results:

• Round Robin Showmanship
• Junior Champion – Aspen Nelson
• Junior Reserve – Carmen McPherson
• Intermediate Champion- Koree Ellenberger
• Intermediate Reserve- Stockton Mitchek
• Senior Champion – Rooney Fehr
• Senior Reserve – Hatch Nelson 

Beef:

• Grand Champion – Aubrey Mitchek #194
• Reserve Grand Champion – Stockton Mitchek #195

Average Daily Gain Contest

• Champion – Gaige Rittgers #192 @ 3.45lbs daily
• Reserve Champion – Zoie Arnold-Kraft #191 @ 3.06lbs daily 
• Class 1 1220-1270lbs
• 1^st – Weston Mitchek #193
• 2^nd – Zoie Arnold-Kraft #191
• Class 2 1340 – 1380lbs
• 1^st – Aubrey Mitchek #194
• 2^nd – Rhealie Rittgers #198
• Class 3 1470 – 1480lbs
• 1^st – Stockton Mitchek #195
• 2^nd Weston Mitchek #196

Breeding Beef

• Class #776 Yearling Heifer
• 1^st – Rhealie Rittgers
• 2^nd – Taygen Ferris
• Class #782 Feeder Calf
• 1^st – Alessandra Paez
• 2^nd – Anthont Paez
• Class #779 Bucket Calf
• 1^st – Hailee Trosper
• Breeding Champion – Rhealie Rittgers
• Reserve Champion – Taygen Ferris 

Beef Showmanship 

• Junior Champion – Aubrey Mitchek
• Intermediate Champion – Stockton Mitchek
• Intermediate Reserve – Gaige Rittgers
• Senior Champion – Rhealie Rittgers
• Senior Reserve – Taygen Ferris 

Sheep:

• Grand Champion – Koree Ellenberger #92
• Reserve Grand Champion – Alexa Nelson #134

Average Daily Gain Contest

• Champion – Hatch Nelson #147 .84lbs daily
• Reserve – Alyxx Egley #88 .79lbs daily
• 3^rd – Carmen McPherson #96 .77lbs daily
• 3^rd – Koree Ellenberger #92 .77lbs daily
• 4^th – Taygen Ferris #124 .70lbs daily
• 5^th – Aspen Nelson #143 .65lbs daily 
• Class 1 – Feeder Class
• 1^st – Hailee Trosper #101
• 2^nd – Anthony Paez #129
• Class 2 110 – 116lbs
• 1^st – Katherine Trosper #103
• 2^nd – Clayton Nelson #131
• Class 3 117 – 119lbs
• 1^st – Alexa Nelson #136
• 2^nd – Katherine Trosper #102
• Class 4 124 – 132lbs
• 1^st – Koree Ellenberger #92
• 2^nd – Alexa Nelson #134
• Class 5 140 – 155lbs
• 1^st – Alexa Nelson #135
• 2^nd – Hatch Nelson #147

Breeding Sheep 

• Class 790 Ewe Sheep Under 1 Year
• 1^st – Alexa Nelson
• 2^nd – Alexa Nelson
• Breeding Champion – Alexa Nelson
• Breeding Reserve – Alexa Nelson 

Sheep Showmanship 

• Junior Champion – Aspen Nelson
• Junior Reserve – Carmen McPherson 
• Intermediate Champion – Koree Ellenberger
• Intermediate Reserve – Alessandra Paez
• Senior Champion – Hatch Nelson
• Senior Reserve – Alexa Nelson

Goat:

• Grand Champion – Spencer Uhland # 80
• Reserve Champion – Koree Ellenberger #93

Average Daily Gain Contest 

• Champion – Spencer Uhland #81 .61lbs daily
• Reserve – Aspen Nelson #153 .50lbs daily 
• 3^rd – Hatch Nelson #156 .46lbs daily
• 3^rd – Mia Crow #106 .46lbs daily
• 4^th – Carmen McPherson #95 .45lbs daily 
• 4^th – Hailee Trosper #100 .45lbs daily 
• 5^th – Case Nelson #149 .40lbs daily 
• Class 1 55 – 65lbs
• 1^st – Ally Spady #117
• 2^nd – Kiya Leonard #126
• Class 2 66 – 77lbs
• 1^st – Ally Spady #116
• 2^nd – Hatch Nelson #157 
• Class 3 78 – 82lbs
• 1^st – Koree Ellenberger #93
• 2^nd – Zoie Arnold-Kraft #109
• Class 4 84 – 91lbs
• 1^st – Koree Ellenberger #94
• 2^nd – Hatch Nelson #156
• Class 5 94 – 96lbs
• 1^st – Gaige Rittgers #108
• 2^nd – Hatch Nelson #155
• Class 6 99 – 111lbs 
• 1^st – Spencer Uhland #80
• 2^nd – Spencer Uhland #81

Breeding Goat

• Class 643 Billy kid born in current year
• 1st – Madison McDowell 
• Class 644 Doe Kid born in the current year
• 1^st – Brentley Lening
• 2^nd – Taygen Ferris 
• Class 645 Yearling Doe
• 1^st – Case Nelson 
• Class 646 Nanny over a year old 
• 1^st – Clayton Nelson
• 2^nd – Madison McDowell
• Breeding Champion – Brentley Lening
• Breeding Reserve – Clayton Nelson 

Goat Showmanship 

• Junior Champion – Mia Crow 
• Junior Reserve – Braya Ferris
• Intermediate Champion – Spencer Uhland 
• Intermediate Reserve – Koree Ellenberger
• Senior Champion – Hatch Nelson
• Senior Reserve – Ally Spady 

Poultry:

• Grand Champion – Aspen Nelson (Pen of 3)
• Reserve Champion – Rooney Fehr (Turkey)
• Class 604 Heavy Breed Pen of 3
• 1^st – Alexa Nelson
• 2^nd Clayton Nelson
• Class 605 Trio Fancy Breed or Bantams
• 1^st – Carmen McPherson 
• Class 607 Rooster
• 1^st – Rooney Fehr
• 2^nd – Wesly Fehr 

Poultry Showmanship

• Junior Champion – Carmen McPherson
• Junior Reserve – Aspen Nelson 
• Intermediate Champion – Wesly Fehr
• Intermediate Reserve – Clayton Nelson
• Senior Champion – Rooney Fehr
• Senior Reserve – Alexa Nelson 

Rabbits:

• Grand Champion – Alexa Nelson
• Reserve Champion – Alexa Nelson
• Breeding Rabbit 
• Class 574 Senior breeding doe (over 6 months)
• 1^st – Alexa Nelson
• 2^nd – Alexa Nelson 
• 576 Senior breeding buck (over 6 months)
• 1^st – Alexa Nelson 
• Breeding Champion – Alexa Nelson 
• Breeding Reserve – Alexa Nelson 

Rabbit Showmanship 

• Senior Champion – Alexa Nelson 
• Swine:
• Grand Champion – Ty Wilson #59
• Reserve Champion – Madison McDowell #81
• Class 1 – Lightweight
• 1^st – Ty Wilson #60
• 2^nd – Kara Wilson #57
• Class 2 220 – 229lbs
• 1^st – Braya Ferris #67
• 2^nd – Braya Ferris #66
• Class 3 230 – 239lbs
• 1^st – Ty Wilson #65
• 2^nd – Ross Brown #54
• Class 4 240 – 249lbs
• 1^st – Stockton Mitchek #46
• 2^nd – Kiya Leonard #61
• Class 5 250 – 259lbs
• 1^st – Ty Wilson #59
• 2^nd – Kara Wilson #58
• Class 6 260 – 272lbs
• 1^st – Madison McDowell #81
• 2^nd – Wesly Fehr #80
• Class 7 276 – 285lbs
• 1^st – Madison McDowell #71
• 2^nd – Addison Courkamp #42
• Class 8 – Overweight 
• 1^st – Addison Courkamp 

Swine Showmanship

• Junior Champion – Aspen Nelson
• Junior Reserve – Braya Ferris 
• Intermediate Champion – Selena Fehr
• Intermediate Reserve – Kara Wilson 
• Senior Champion – Hatch Nelson 
• Senior Reserve – Kiya Leonard 

The Colorado State Fair looked quite different this year. The County Extension Agents took 4-H projects up on a Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, and all projects were judged on Friday and Saturday. Then all the County Agents had to return to pick all the projects up Saturday afternoon and Sunday. Nothing was put on display for the public to view. If you check out our website https://kiowa.extension.colostate.edu you can view all the projects from Exhibit Day with placings labeled on each picture.

Here is a rundown of the Colorado State Fair placings for our Kiowa County 4-H Members. 

Colorado State Fair Results for Kiowa County 4-H Members

• Horseless Horse Unit 3, JR – Mia Crow, Champion
• Horseless Horse Unit 3, INT – Hailee Trosper, Qualifier
• Gardening Unit 1, INT – Kara Wilson, 3^rd
• Gardening Unit 3, JR – Mia Crow, Champion
• Leathercraft, Coloring & Shading, SR – Morgyn Johnson, 4^th
• Leathercraft, Creative Stamping, SR – Alexa Nelson, 6^th
• Leathercraft, Braiding & Untooled, SR – Chase Stolzenberger, Champion 
• Scrapbooking Unit 1, JR – Aspen Nelson, 7^th
• Woodworking Unit 4, INT – Clayton Nelson, 9^th
• Artistic Clothing Upcycle Your Style, JR – Itzi Ramirez, 10^th
• Artistic Clothing Upcycle Your Style, INT – Zoie Arnold-Kraft, Qualifier
• Creative Sewing Unit 5, JR – Mia Crow, Champion and Division Reserve Grand Champ. 
• Creative Sewing Unit 5, SR – Alexa Nelson, Champion
• Cake Decorating Unit 1, JR – Carmen McPherson, Qualifier
• Cake Decorating Unit 1, INT – Lily Abrams, 5^th
• Cake Decorating Unit 3, JR – Mia Crow 9^th
• Cake Decorating Unit 3, INT – Hailee Trosper, Qualifier
• Cake Decorating Unit 9, INT – Katherine Trosper, Qualifier
• Clothing STEAM 2, Top, INT – Clayton Nelson, Reserve Champion
• Clothing STEAM 2, Skirt, SR – Alexa Nelson, Reserve Champion
• Food Preservation Freezing and Drying Unit 40, 
• SR – Alexa Nelson, Reserve Champion 
• Food Preservation Boiling Water Canning Unit 42,
• Alexa Nelson, 9^th
• Cooking Unit 3 Yeast Rolls, JR – Aspen Nelson, Reserve Champion 
• Outdoor Cooking Unit 25, INT – Clayton Nelson, Reserve Champion and Division Reserve Grand Champion
• Crochet, SR – Emily Nelson, 3^rd
• Fiber Arts (Needle Art), SR – Emily Nelson, 6^th
• Quilting Unit 2, JR – Mia Crow, Champion
• Quilting Unit 3, INT – Clayton Nelson, 3^rd
• Quilting Unit 3, SR – Alexa Nelson, Reserve Champion 
• Home Design & Décor Unit 3, INT – Selena Fehr, 4^th
• Basic Model Rocketry, JR – Aspen Nelson, Champion
• Advanced Model Rocketry, INT – Case Nelson, 3^rd
• Shooting Sports “Archery” Display Board, SR - 
• Alexa Nelson, Qualifier
• Shooting Sports “Shot Gun” Display Board, SR -
• Will Crow, 10^th
• Shooting Sports “Air Rifle” Stand Alone, JR – Aspen Nelson, Champion 
• Shooting Sports “.22 Rifle” Stand Alone, JR – Landon Zimmerman, Qualifier
• Shooting Sports “.22 Rifle” Stand Alone, INT – Clayton Nelson, Qualifier
• Shooting Sports “Decorative Item”, SR – Emily Nelson, 10^th
• Sportfishing Unit 1 Stand Alone, INT – Case Nelson, 4^th
• Photography Contest “Landscape”, SR – Alexa Nelson, 10^th
• Photography Contest “Plant Life”, SR – Alexa Nelson, 8th