Wharton County 4-H winners at the San Antonio Livestock Show
By AARON WILSON Ag Extension Agent

Contributed Photo Denya and Butter Denya Toman Nohavitza won champion AOB with her steer named Butter in the San Antonio Livestock Show & Rodeo in the junior market steer division. Nohavitza, the daughter of Jeff and Susan Nohavitza of El Campo, received $10,000 and made the market sale with her steer.

The Wharton County 4-H exhibitors had another great year at the San Antonio Livestock Show and Rodeo ,bringing home championship banners and scholarship dollars. This group of youth also learned about the hard work, dedication, early mornings and late nights it takes to compete at the state level and did it all while having fun with friends and family.

To start the show off in the turkey hens, Clay Glaze placed 13th overall making the market sale on Feb. 15. Also showing turkeys that day, but unable to make it into the top 35 sale spots, were Zane Baker and Trenton Socha. Showing market broilers and unable to make the sale this year was Megan Faas.

The 4-Hers showing dairy cattle earned both first and second place in the dairy herd group class. Showing in the junior dairy show were Danielle Valenta, 5th in class; Brooke Wallace, 2nd with both heifers and 2nd in junior showmanship; Kyler Couvillion, 1st in class; Korie Couvillion, 7th in class; Bethany Weinheimer, 4th with her cow and 1st in senior showmanship; and Clint George placed 4th, 5th and 5th with his three heifers.

The dairy judging team of Colleen Krenek, Sierra Ledwig, Shelby Rod and Bethany Weinheimer placed 9th overall team with Shelby Rod placing 4th overall individual. Other dairy judging members were Korie Couvillion, Kyler Couvillion, Cheyenne Morton, Kyler Valenta, Michaela Bram, Cydni Rod, Danielle Valenta and Brooke Wallace.

The horse judging team members were Taylor Cook, Jillian Jeane, Meredith Jeane and Shea Slattery with Jillian Jeane placing 12th overall.

The livestock judging team members were Katie Reyna, Laura Reyna, Shelby Rod, Brett Wallace and Brooke Wallace.

In the youth longhorn show, Shelby Rod exhibited the grand champion halter female, grand champion haltered steer and was 1st place senior showmanship winner. Gregory Rod also showed winning 1st place, several 2nd and 3rd places in different classes as well as winning 2nd place teen showmanship.

In the goat show, Heather Graham showed her goat, but was unable to place high enough to make it into the market sale.

In the Barrow Show, Regan McGuill exhibited her barrow, however was unable to place him in the market sale this year.

In the junior breeding beef heifer show, Emily Forgason won grand champion Brahman heifer and received a $10,000 scholarship for college. Also, showing Brahman heifers were Erin Forgason who placed 4th, Ellen Forgason who placed 2nd and 3rd with her two heifers and Michael Joyce Jr. who showed a Red Brahman heifer. In the shorthorn heifer show, Laura Reyna placed 7th and Katie Reyna placed 5th.

In the junior market steer show, Denya Toman Nohavitza won champion AOB breed champion and received $10,000 and made the market sale with her steer. Other steer exhibitors that showed but were unable to make the market sale were Chance Nohavitza, Natalie Nohavitza and Lauren Macha.