The 2024 4-H Beef Show of Champions was held Tuesday night in the Hancock County Fairgrounds show arena.
Cows were shown in several classes earlier in the day, with the champions and reserve champions from each class moving on to the evening show of champions to compete for Supreme Heifer and Grand Champion Steer.
Class champion heifers were shown by Jacob Mauer, Aidan Morris, Carter Wickard in two categories, Milania Durham, Delainey Reeves, DeLaney Truebenbach in two categories, Benson Matlock, Lane Simmons, Camryn Blue and Brigham Edwards.
Judge Luke Lemenager said two of the cattle immediately stood out from the rest — Carter’s Chianina and Benson’s Limousine. After a long deliberation praising both animals, Lemenager ultimately gave the nod to Carter, a senior in his last year in the program, for Supreme Heifer, placing Benson in second. Brigham won Supreme Heifer for cattle born and raised in Hancock County.
“Got in there and got her done, it was a good day,” Carter said. Carter also recently won a fair in Maryland and is planning to bring the same heifer that won in Hancock County to the Indiana State Fair in Indianapolis.
Champion steers entered the ring next, with champs being shown by Jacob Wickard, Lanee Swindell, Carlyn Blue, Sydney Springman, Lanee Swindell, Gracie Shores, Maggie Shoufler and RaeLynn Hardy.
Lemenager immediately found an animal that stood above the rest of the field, quickly crowning the steer of RaeLynn, an eight-year old in her first year of 4-H competition, as the grand champion steer.
“It felt good, but surprised me,” RaeLynn said. “[The cow] acted up a little bit, but I think he did good for what he is. His name’s Maverick.”
Carlyn’s steer won Reserve Grand Champion while Gracie took home Born and Raised Grand Champion.
Finally all competitors came through the ring for the showmanship competition in each age bracket. Brigham Edwards won for the first year division, Brogan Edwards for the junior division and DeLaney Truebenbach for the intermediate division. Lemenager struggled to make a decision in the senior division, bringing back several competitors out of each heat rather than each one, proudly saying he could “do what he want,” ultimately advancing seven competitors to the finals. After a long deliberation process, Lemenager ultimately crowned Camryn Blue, 15 and her first year in the division, as Champion Senior Showman.
“I’ve always been intense,” Blue said of what makes her enjoy the showmanship competition. “It felt good to win. This heifer wasn’t very friendly when we first brought her in the barn. Me and her have become best friends.”
Lemenager had high praise for all the competitors and for the 4-H program for both Hancock County and the state of Indiana.
“I expected no less when I crossed that state line,” he said.
The showmanship champions advanced to the supreme showmanship championship Thursday night.
