Adair County 4-H'ers Win Purples at Ak-Sar-Ben
Adair County 4-H’ers claimed a host of honors during the Ak-Sar-Ben Livestock Exposition held in Omaha. Tyler Long claimed the title of Champion Simmental Heifer with his February entry, Long’s Foxy Lady. She is the home-raised daughter of SVF Steel Force and LS Sweets. Earlier this year Long won 5th place in the overall bred and owned female division at the Simmental Junior National Classic in Sedalia and Reserve Champion Female at the Iowa Junior Simmental Field Day with the same heifer. Long is the son of Rob and Gina Long of Creston. He is a senior at Orient-Macksburg High School and a member of the Orient Bulldogs 4-H Club.
Top honors in the steer division of the feeder calf show went to Kysa Downing of Creston with her home-raised steer, Xavier. The high school junior also earned a purple award with her feeder calf heifer. In addition, she earned 5th place overall in the feeder calf showmanship competition. Her brothers, Heath and Chisum, also claimed coveted purple awards in the feeder calf show with home-raised entries. Heath also won a blue with his market steer. Chisum, Kysa, and Heath are the children of Steve and Karen Downing and are members of the Richland Royals 4-H Club and attend Nodaway Valley Schools.
Adding to the parade of purple for Adair County 4-H’ers was Leah Gilman, the daughter of Cary and Rochelle Gilman of Stuart. She earned her purple ribbon with her Shorthorn heifer. Gilman received a blue award in beef showmanship.
The string of purple awards carried over to the sheep competitors. Both Cody Long of Creston and Cade Suhr of Adair captured purple ribbons with their market lamb entries. Long is the son of Rob and Gina Long. Suhr is the son of Scott and Natalie Suhr.
Ak-Sar-Ben features 4-H exhibitors from Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
Youth interested in finding out more about how to get involved in exhibiting livestock as part of the 4-H program can contact the Adair County Extension at 641-743-8412.
