Graduates graduated into Angus shows on June 7, 2008 at Clemson’s T. Ed Garrison Cattle complex. John Petty, a senior, competed in the 2008 South Carolina Junior Angus Preview Show and afterwards rushed back home for his graduation ceremony from Clover High School. The veteran director of the National Junior Angus Association, Ann Blumer, was present to guide the junior activities. She announced the event while Judge Dr. Dan Eversole from Viginia Tech gave the junior showman advice on perfecting their showmanship skills.
Almost every year the cows and contestants put on a rodeo. Not like the NFR but like a rodeo because the cattle are in their first show of the season and are still in training for showring protocol. This time they all behaved pretty well and were accused by Judge Dr. Dan Eversole of falling asleep while they were being shown.
Showmanship was divided into three classes by age of the showmen. Matt Vaughn from Pacolet won top honors in the senior class (ages 17-21). The intermediate class (13-16) was topped by Corbin Yon from Yon Family Farm in Ridge Springs. Chisholm Clark of Riverhill Farm in Fountain Inn stood at the head of his class in the junior class (9-12). In each class. Judge Dan Eversole took time to explain what each showman needed to change to improve. Good training for their future show experience.
The beauty contest for the Angus followed with a bull class. Elizabeth Edmunds led her bull EE Rito 11308 sired by Saugahatchie 3000 into the ring and out with a blue ribbon. In the cow-calf class John Petty took the top place with two-year-old Blu Q Lass S755 and her calf Pettys Erica Eileen Lass 208, sired by TC Total 410.
In the junior heifer class E Star Lucy Expression 2198 sired by Pine Drive Big Sky won , escorted by John Wesley Edmunds. For the late senior heifer calves class Tanner Rhodes led the winner, CWF Elba 878 T116 sired by Whitestone CWF Design. Destiny McCauley stood in the top of the class A for early senior heifer calves with her heifer BCF 4915 Expectation T 286 sired by GAR Expectations 4915. Class B had Katie Pruitt holding the blue ribbon for her Jarrell Elba 140T sired by GAR Predestined. Katie won Calf Champion with this heifer. Her Crow T 120 heifer, which stood second to the Calf Champion in class, won the Reserve Calf Champion. This championship class was a clean sweep for Katie Pruitt.
In the early summer yearling class, Pettys Legend Pride 607 sired by JP Earl Marshall Legend earned the blue ribbon with John Petty as the owner. She also won the Intermediate Champion. Elizabeth Edmunds’ EE E&T Maid 657E sired by Edmunds New Promise was the Reserve Intermediate Champion.
Garrett Metz lead his Buchanan’s Virginia Rose sired by Leachman Saugahatchee out of the ring with first in the late junior yearlings. The early junior yearlings class starred Matt Vaughan with SAR Miss Big Sky 7308 sired by Rito 2-878. This rising star also won the Junior Champion. Lemmon Eline T50 owned by Katie Pruitt and sired by SAV 5175 Bando 0699 was by her side as Reserve Junior Champion.
The senior yearlings were divided into two classes, A and B. Corbin Yon showed Yon Hazel T252 sired by Morgans Direction 11199 to first place in class A and to the Senior Champion rosette. BCF 2V1 Rita S253 ET sired by Rito 2V1 08 2536 1407 won her B class and Reserve Senior Champion with Destiny McCauley by her side.
Grand Champion Heifer was Yon Hazel T 252 owned by Corbin Yon. Katie Pruitt’s Jarrell Elba 140T won the Reserve Champion Heifer.
In the Bred and Owned class again Corbin Yon won with Yon Hazel T 252. Cory Watt proudly earned the Reserve Bred and Owned Heifer with CWF Elba 095 5110.
So with that the juniors graduated to the business of elections and discussions about their summer shows. Even though Sally and Drake Yon were away on a mission trip to Barbados, Sally Yon was elected in absentia as president of the South Carolina Junior Angus Association. John Petty was chosen as vice-president. Cory Watt will take over the big responsibility of secretary -treasurer. The reporter office went to Katie Pruitt.
Katie will also be the Queen. Teddi Steadman was elected Princess. These girls plan to attend the Eastern Regional and National Junior Shows where they will enjoy the royal festivities that go along with the responsibility. Garrett Metz and Teddi Steadman will serve as delegates at the National Junior Angus annual meeting.. The advisors will return again. Lydia Yon, Ted Bourne, and Jesse Adkins graciously agreed to serve again at the request of the juniors.
The juniors and guests took a break to eat pizza. Then Ann Blumer, the just retired SC Junior Angus president, shared some workshops from her recent experience on the National Junior Angus Board.
Each year the Juniors are able to have their show with the support of sponsors. Thisyear the juniors can thank the following who sponsored the classes: American Angus Hall of Fame, Angus Topics, Black Crest Farms, Cedar Creek Farms, Cox Angus, Crooked Trail, Double B Farm, Glendale Angus, Hurricane Creek, M PAC Angus, , Martin and Martin Auctioneers, Mull Meadow, Paul Boyd Angus, Riverhill Farms, , Stillwater Cattle Company, Tokeena Angus, Tumble T Bar T , Wilson Creek, and Yon Family Farms.
The juniors are important to our Angus industry both as consumers of our Angus (in more ways than one) and as our future breeders. We appreciate their hard work and the sponsors that help them on their way.
Speaking of that, one of the past supporters of our SC Juniors and their shows recently celebrated her 80th birthday in Branchville, SC. Wyatt and Troy Wimberly were well known from their SC travels to Angus shows and fairs across America with their son, Barry Wimberly and cousins, Thad and Beth Wimberly. Happy birthday, Wyatt Wimberly! She celibrated 80 years on Sunday, May 27 at Mt. Tabor Baptist Church.. When the Wimberlys were showing Angus, Wyatt could fix a mean tail on those show heifers.
Our juniors will graduate through life from one achievement to the next. Their Angus leadership experience will influence other juniors to love and show Angus. So time goes by, juniors leading Angus from show to show, from junior to junior as they graduate and lead another group into the Angus ring of life.
SCAA has a web site at www.scangus.org. SCAA dues are $20 a year. For members who have not yet paid their dues, they are due now. Send news and $20 dues to Windy Bartee, 1717 St. Paul Church Road, Clover, SC 29710.
