The Connors State College (CSC) inaugural cattle show team garnered several big wins during the Tulsa State Fair open cattle shows, Sept. 28-30.
After being awarded a champion ribbon in the yearling division, CSC Hitch Hiker was named grand champion bull of the Santa Gertrudis open show. This marks the second consecutive year for Connors State College to attain this honor at the Tulsa fair. The 2011 title-winning bull, H&B Hef-A-Nizer, received 2012 breed accolades as well champion get-of-sire.
The CSC Show Team, made up of 21 freshmen and sophomore students, also exhibited animals in the Simmental, percentage Simmental and Maine-Anjou breeding shows.
Simmental open show awards included: reserve champion spring yearling heifer with CSC Ms Momentum 106Y; champion junior yearling bull with CSC Momentum 101Y; and champion senior bull calf with Moonshiner Y91. CRN Steel Force 178Y was named the reserve grand champion bull during the percentage Simmental show.
Show team members also claimed victory with a pair of Maine-Anjou bulls owned by former CSC livestock judging coach, Rep. Jerry McPeak. Grand champion Maine-Anjou bull was awarded to Renegade, while reserve grand honors went to the younger MLOW Pokerface.
Achievements at Tulsa came just one week after three big wins in the open Santa Gertrudis show at the Oklahoma State Fair in Oklahoma City. The first event for the newly-formed CSC show team was deemed a success after members exhibited the champion bull calf. CSC Pawn Star, while CSC Hitch Hiker claimed division, yearling and grand champion bull honors.
The Connors State College show team is an integral part of the Purebred Ranch Operations program, designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed for success in the seedstock segment of the beef cattle industry. Used as a marketing tool for the Connors beef herd, the show team will exhibit cattle at 4-5 shows per year across the United States. Under the advisement of Blake Nelson, CSCs director of farm operations, with assistance from Cowherd Manager and Show Team Coach, Dale Pitchford, team members for the 2012-2013 year include: Clayton Edgemon, Hunter Bradley, Hunter Dauck, Aaron Grimes, Cecile Harris, Kylie Duggan, Lindsey Dugan, Haleigh Caldwell, Hannah Allen, Cole Webster, Austyn Tucker, Christina Damron, Isaac Blankenship, Kaitlyn Merriman, Katie Bullard, Landon Bolin, Matt Lowrimore, Shanna Estes, Stuart Symes, Traye Gann and Whitney McCollum.
The show team will be back on the road Nov. 3-4 for competition at The American Royal in Kansas City, Mo.