Steers owned by Matt and Julia Anderson of Alma and heifers owned by Joe and Debbie Reinert from Cassoday were the winners of grand awards at the Flint Hills Beef Fest in Emporia.
The awards are based on the best combined finish in the grass futurity and live stocker show.
An entry from Brandon Litch and Kelsey Porter, both of Melvern, won the steer division of the live stocker show. Second place was a pen of steers owned by Michael and Steven Arndt from Emporia, with the grand award-winning entry from the Andersons placing third.
A pen of three owned by Brad and Michelle Haun of Fall River placed first in the heifer division of the live stocker show. Those in second were entered by Don and Carole Haun from Fall River. The heifers placing third were the grand award winners owned by the Reinerts.
Entries in the grass futurity were on pasture from late April through mid-August. Cattle were ranked by the greatest adjusted gain on grass.
Wes Cahoone and Lee Glanville, both of Cottonwood Falls, entered the champion steers in this weight-gain division. The cattle gained 3.03 pounds per day.
An entry from Parker and Paige Meats of LeRoy won second, gaining 3.01 pounds per day. Steers owned by Kevin and Emily Darbyshire from Hartford finished third, with an average daily gain of 2.89 pounds.
The heifer grass futurity was won by a pen of three entered by Derek and Kerri Jackson of Council Grove with an average daily gain of 2.56 pounds.
The Reinerts’ grand award-winning heifers placed second, gaining 2.54 pounds per day. Third place was a pen of heifers owned by Mark and Hanna Anderson from Alma that gained 2.52 pounds per day.
Derek Jackson won the steer division in the grandstand judging contest, and Joe Reinert was the heifer division champion.
In a grandstand weight guessing competition, first in the steer division went to Bradon Litch, while Derek Jackson won the heifer division.
The Gibbs Cattle team won the ranch rodeo with cowboys Chase Gibbs, Kolby Boos, Zack Parkins, and Ty Swiler.
Second place in the ranch rodeo went to X2 Ranch with Garret Cole, Justin Keith, Mason Ringgold, and Salvador Torres.
Buck Creek and Patry Ranches placed third in the ranch rodeo with Randy Peterson, Jason Brown, Jayden Patry, and Josh Patry.
Arndt and Bailey Ranches placed fourth in the ranch rodeo with Ryan Arndt, Wes Bailey, Glen Collinge, and Josh Lilly.
Jerod Struthers of CRB Cattle Company was honored as the Top Hand at the ranch rodeo with his mount named for the Top Horse Award.
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