Champs crowned at Winter Bash

LEARNING TO SHOW an animal's best features to the judge at Winter Bash will benefit Jasper County 4-H and FFA contenders when they go to future livestock exhibits. Junior showmanship swine champion Cody Darby, left, demonstrates good driving skills. Senior champion Dayna Tidwell, below, keeps her hog's head up, while judge Bennie Whitworth gives two other contestants pointers on showing swine. Newsboy photos/ Charles Kerr

Jasper held its first annual Winter Bash livestock show Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Junior Livestock arena near the airport.

"This is the first jackpot show we've had in a long, long time," 4-H adviser Dru Miller said, "and it's such good experience for the kids to practice showing their animals before judges and an audience."

Organizer Joan Ferguson said about 80 kids attended, some registering several animals in more than one category.

In the swine arena, judge Bennie Whitworth took the time to explain to each young contender how to impress judges at livestock shows and rodeos.

"You can use a lot of different kind of sticks- you can even go cut a switch from the woods, just be sure it's long enough that you keep control. Don't get between your hog and the judge," Whitworth advised.

Joshe' Horn had the grand champion steer. Blake Wagstaff won both the reserve champion heifer and the senior showmanship award.

A complete list of the steers and breeding beef category winners was not available, but other winners, by category and placement were:

GOATS

Class 1: Troy Shanks, Martha Cooper, Caty Shanks, Martha Cooper

Class 2: Will Miller, Nicole Hamilton, Christina Murphy, Dayna Tidwell, Ashlee Poole

Class 3: Erin Lusk, Brent Caffey, Savanah Steffey, Rebekah Jimenez, Katie Maddox

Class 4: Dakota Spatola, Josie Spatola (junior showmanship), Kristi Floyd, Lauren Boulware (senior showmanship), Jacey Gray, Landon Parker, Thomas Boulware

Class 5: Nikki Caffey, Taylor Downs, Adam Buffington (3rd and 4th), Garrett Williamson, Seth Singleton, Tyler Downs

HOGS

Class 1: Kevin Chaprean, Dayna Tidwell (senior showmanship)

Class 2: Kenzie White, Cody Darby (junior showmanship), Lorena Elser, Cody Lee, Mackenzie Malone

Class 3: Josh Mehl, Drew Templet, Taylor George, Whitney George, Colby Tharp, Garrett Landis, Zack Elser, Josie Baker

Class 4: Jessica Sanders, Dayna Tidwell, Caleb George, Nikki Caffey, Alex Dubose

Class 5, Ashley Burnett, Hayden Dubose, Tyler A. Smith, Ashtynn Goodwin

LAMBS

Class 1: Katie Maddox, Shana Landry, Jacey Gray (junior showmanship), Trent Morgan, Tyler Loyd, Abagial Micheler

Class 2: Triston Morgan, Steven Harbuck, Thomas Boulware, Obadiah Micheler

Class 3: Lauren Boulware, Kristi Floyd, Nicole Hamilton (senior showmanship), Lauren Menard, Braden Goodman, Brook Morgan, Tryton Portch

Class 4: Adam Buffington