New awards added to NRV Fair beef show

By JANE W. GRAHAM
AFP Correspondent

DUBLIN, Va. — Two new awards were presented at the end of the New River Valley Fair’s Livestock Show here in July.   Ella Reeves of Pulaski County captured the Bonnie Boothe Premier Livestock Exhibitor Award and Nathan Cline of Wythe County showed the Supreme Champion Heifer in the beef cattle division.
The week-long regional fair held at the New River Valley Fairgrounds here in Pulaski County saw a changing parade of livestock settle into the barns, pass through the show ring and go home to make room for more.  The beef and dairy numbers were up in the show while sheep were down, Jason Pratt, Pulaski County Extension agent said.
For sometime, this show has been one of the largest sheep shows in the state but declining sheep numbers in the area are believed to be one of the factors in fewer sheep being shown.
The fair took place during the hottest days of the recent record breaking heat wave, challenging the young people showing and making the animals cranky and restless.  Despite the heat and humidity, the people showing maintained a cool, calm demeanor in the show ring and in the barns.  
The Bonnie Boothe award, honors the memory of Mrs. Boothe who was a long-time supporter of the show and of 4-H in Pulaski County.  The third generation of her family showed in the sheep show.
Pratt reported that Chelsea Cooke of Allegany County won the Herdsman Award in the Beef Cattle Show. Other winners included Hanna Eller of Grayson County, Senior Showmanship; Savanna Cline of Wythe County, Intermediate Showmanship; Alex McVey, Washington County, Junior Showmanship; and Martha Holt, Novice Showmanship.
In the Angus Division, Hanna Eller of Grayson County showed the Champion and Robert Reeves of Wythe County showed the Reserve Champion, Pratt reported.
The Hereford Champion was show by B. J. Harlow and the Reserve Champion by Alex McVey of Washington County, he said.
In the Simmental Division, Nathan Cline of Wythe County showed the Champion and Cody Foglesong of Washington County had the Reserve Champion.
Smyth County’s Zack Jones showed the top commercial animal in the Beef Cattle Show with Cody Foglesong of Washington County coming in second, Pratt reported.
Smyth County was winner of the Group of Four cattle.
Pratt reported that Kaylee Greiner of Montgomery County won the Herdsman Award in the sheep show.  He said the other winners were Hayley Blevins, Senior Showmanship; Jack Redifer, Intermediate Showmanship; Kaylee Greiner, Junior Showmanship; and Amanda Bowman, Novice Showmanship.
He said Jack Redifer of Montgomery County showed the Champion Market Lamb and Hayley Blevins had the Reserve Champion Market Lamb.
In the Dairy Show which had 60 cattle and 25 young people competing, Suzanne Leonard of Carroll County won the Herdsman Award.  Other winners were Kendra Lester of Floyd, Senior Showmanship; Holly Cassell of Grayson, Intermediate Showmanship; Hayden Cassell of Grayson County, Junior Showmanship; Destiny Laymen, Novice Showmanship; and Matt Claughball, Floyd, Senior Novice Showmanship.
Carry Sage Linsey showed the Champion Holstein and Kendra Lester showed the Reserved Champion.  Grace Sanders of Pulaski County showed the Champion Brown Swiss and Kendra Lester had the Reserve Champion.
Pratt reported that Grace Sanders showed both the Champion and Reserve Champion Jersey and Supreme Champion Brown Swiss. Kendra Lester showed the Reserve Champion Brown Swiss.
Officials reported that hogs returned to the fair last year for the first time in 20 years, officials reported and this year’s hog show grew with more being shown than in 2009.
Pratt reported that the Herdsman Award went to John Clause of Montgomery County and the Senior Showmanship award went to Colby Redifer of Montgomery County Kylie Hash of Smyth County won the Intermediate Showmanship Award and Ella Reeves of Pulaski County won the Junior Showmanship Award. Will Huff of Pulaski County won the Novice Showmanship.
Other hog show winners were Colby Redifer, Montgomery County, Champion Prospect Market Hog; Ella Reeves, Reserve Champion Prospect Hog; Champion Prospect Market Hog Pair, Tori Kegley, Pulaski County; and Reserve Champion Prospect Market Hog Pair, Kylie Hash, Pulaski.