As Austin County 4-Hers wrap up an incredible major show season, it’s not only time to reflect on the success of individ ual projects but also the growth and knowledge gained throughout their experiences.
Every year, 4-H and FFA chapters across the state of Texas kick off their major show season at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo before moving on to San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, and finishing out with Rodeo Austin.
Many people don’t realize that these major shows encompass more than just exhibiting livestock. Competitions offered through major shows include public speaking, archery, shotgun, horticulture, floral design, photography, skillathons, quiz bowl, food challenge, ag mechanics, robotics, consumer decision making, veterinary science, and dairy, horse, livestock, meat, poultry, wildlife, and wool judging con tests!
Are you tired yet?
The Austin County 4-H mem bers who participate in these contests might be, but they continue putting in maximum effort seeking their intended results. Now about those results...
Picklo, Miller and McCullough win big at Fort Worth Stock Show Austin County 4-H's first major show stop, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, featured 19 members exhibiting heifers, three exhibiting steers, a four-member team competing in horse judging, and two exhibitors competing in the Jr. Shooting Sports Competi tion. Heifers
Madilyn McCullough re-turned with her Fort Worth Calf Scramble Heifer and showed in the Hereford Junior Yearling Fe male Class where she was named Class Champion.
Madilyn was also the recipient of a $10,000 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo Calf Scramble Program Scholarship for her efforts and dedication to the scramble program. Congratulations was expressed to her for funding her future education through her participation in the 4-H beef program.
Paisley Miller exhibited CLF KSC SMOKESHOW 2333 to be named Charolais Spring Yearling Reserve Class Champion. The pair then advanced to compete in the Senior Heifer Division, where they were awarded the Reserve Champion Senior Heifer title.
Makenzie McCullough exhibited MCC TARAS TA DA 54K in the Hereford Early Summer Yearling Heifer Class where she was named Class Champion.
She then exhibited Ta Da in the division drive where they walked away with the title of Champion Yearling Female.
Donnie Smart returned with his Fort Worth Calf Scramble Heifer DEAN MISS FU HOO 402K and exhibited in ORB Heifers Calved Jan-Feb 2022 Reserve Class Champion Division Contender Madyson Johnson, Brangus Late Spring Heifer Calves, took seventh place.
Sawyer Schrader, Brangus Late Spring Heifer Calves, Class Champion Division Contender Mackenzie Schrader, Brangus Late Winter Heifer Calves took eighth place.
Gracie Johnson, Brangus Winter Senior Heifer was Reserve Class Champion Division Contender.
Taylor Eckelberg, Hereford Junior Heifer Calves, was third place.
Camryn McCullough, Here- ford Late Summer Yearling Heif ers, was third place.
Danika Daughtrey, Limousin Heifers Calved January 2023, took fourth place.
Jesse Macat, Simmental April Spring Heifer Calves, placed nineth.
Baylie Macat, Simmental March Spring Heifer Calves, placed fourth.
Jacie McReynolds, Simmental Early Senior Heifer Calves was Reserve Class Champion Division Contender.
Matthew Wybro, Simmental Early Summer Yearling Heifers.
Kaylie Wybro, Simmental Early Junior Yearling Heifers, placed seventh.
Christopher (Carter) McClen- don, ORB Heifers Calved after May 2023.
Avery Eckelberg, Simbrah March Spring Heifer Calves was - Reserve Class Champion Divi sion Contender.
Teaghan Eckelberg, Simbrah Early Summer Yearling Heifers, took fifth place.
Steers
Taylor Eckelberg, Light Weight American Cross Teaghan Eckelberg, Heavy Weight American Cross
Emersyn Eckelberg, Medium Weight European Cross Horse Judging
The Austin County 4-H Senior Horse Judging Team, con - sisting of Emily Holloman, Pais - ley Miller, Ally Estep and Taylor Eckelberg, competed for the second time ever at the FWSSR Horse Judging Contest.
The team judged Western Trail, Ranch Riding, Stock Horse Pleasure, Western Horseman ship, Reining, Halter Mares and Halter Geldings.
Members then defended their placings to the Texas A&M University Contest Officials by giving three sets of oral reasons.
The team earned eighth High Point Overall, sixth High Point Team-Halter, seventh High Point Team-Performance and third High Point Team-Reasons.
Taylor Eckelberg, took fifth High Point Individual Overall, fifth High Point Individual Halter, nineth High Point Individual Performance, and fifth High Point Individual Reasons.
Paisley Miller was 13th High Point Individual Overall, 13th High Point Individual Halter, 19th High Point Individual Performance, 10th High Point Individual - Reasons.
Allyson Estep took 10th High Point Individual - Reasons.
Shotgun
Samantha Weber won Senior Female Division.
Lane Picklo won first place Senior Male Division Grand Champion Shooter .
If you're looking for some body who will “shoot ya straight," Senior Austin County 4-H member Lane Picklo is the obvious choice. Picklo competed in the annual Sporting Clay Tournament and was awarded first place Senior Male Division earning him a Division Champion Buckle and $1,500 Premium.
Additionally, he was named Grand Champion Shooter Over all which added a Grand Champion Buckle and a $1,000 Premi um to his accolades.
Not to mention, this is his second year being awarded this honor after achieving the same title the year prior.
Austin County 4-H congratulates Picklo on this huge accom plishment! The numerous accolades and accomplishments that Austin County 4-Hers have added to their collections this season are almost too many to count.
Regardless, we want to make sure that we don’t miss a single one.
Keep your eyes peeled for the recap of San Angelo and San An tonio next.
To be continued...
