SADIE PARTRIDGE Reserve Champion Steer Over 150 people attended the firstever Lincoln County 4-H Steer & Heifer Shootout Saturday, June 14, at Serendipity Farm, the home of Katrina and Doug Harmon on Lovelace Road.

During the afternoon, 11 Lincoln County 4-Hers exhibited 20 of the finest steers and heifers in the state.

The grand champion steer was shown by Justin Ashmore and the reserve champion by Sadie Partridge.

Ivie Aycock exhibited the grand champion heifer, with Tanner Aycock showing the reserve champion.

Other 4-Hers participating in the event were Bentley Beggs, Jake Durden, Carson Goldman, C.J. Goldman, Dalton Tankersley, Amberly Wilkes, and Will Wilkes.

The judge for the occasion was Brian Bolt of Anderson, South Carolina. Bolt is a Ph.D. candidate in animal science at Clemson University.

Prior to the "shoot out in the ring," the judge conducted a showmanship clinic/competition. In showmanship, which is part of every livestock show event, the exhibitor and the animal are judged on how well they work together. The exhibitor is further judged on his overall knowledge of his particular steer or heifer.

TANNER AYCOCK Reserve Champion Heifer "Our judge did an outstanding job of teaching our 4-Hers about showmanship etiquette in and out of the show ring," said Monte Stephens, ag and 4-H extension agent for Lincoln County.

Following the showmanship clinic, Bolt faced the tough task of judging the 4-Hers and their livestock.

"This particular steer and heifer show was a prospect show, where the animals were judged on 'projected finishes,'" noted Stephens. "The animals will continue to grow and change over time as they develop into market and breeding stock."

The results of the Lincoln County 4-H Steer & Heifer Shootout were as follows:

Heifers

Ivey Aycock, grand champion (656 pounds), and Tanner Aycock, reserve champion (730 pounds).

Class 1 (656 to 700 pounds): Ivie Aycock, first place, and Bentley Beggs, second place.

Class 2 (730 to 750 pounds): Tanner Aycock, first place; C.J. Goldman, second place; and Bentley Beggs, third place.

Steers

Justin Ashmore, grand champion (688-pound Chi-influence steer), and Sadie Partridge, reserve champion (585-pound Simmental steer).

Class 1 (585 to 646 pounds): Sadie Partridge, first place; Tanner Aycock, second place; and Dalton Tankersley, third place.

Class 2 (615 to 688 pounds): Justin Ashmore, first place; Carson Goldman, second place; Sadie Partridge, third place; and Amberly Wilkes, fourth place.

Class 3 (714 to 756 pounds): C.J. Goldman, first place; Justin Ashmore, second place; Ivie Aycock, third place; and Will Wilkes, fourth place.

Class 4 (790 to 815 pounds): C.J. Goldman, first place; Dalton Tankersley, second place; and Jake Durden, third place.

Showmanship

Class 1 - Beginner Division: Tanner Aycock, first place; Bentley Beggs, second place; Jake Durden, third place; and Will Wilkes, fourth place.

Class 2 - Intermediate Division: Sadie Partridge, first place; Ivey Aycock, second place; Carson Goldman, third place; and Amberly Wilkes, fourth place.

Class 3 - Experienced Division: C.J. Goldman, first place; Justin Ashmore, second place; and Dalton Tankersley, third place.

At the conclusion of the steer and heifer show, Lincoln County's best livestock showmen from the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s entered the ring to compete in the Oldtimers Showmanship Division.

"There were cheers all around for these young men and women from days gone by, who enjoyed compet- ing once again as well as reminiscing about their experiences showing livestock," said Monte Stephens.

The judge for the show was Herbert Powell, a familiar face to all of the competitors. Powell served as an extension agent in Lincoln County for 16 years before retiring in 2001.

Among the "oldtimers" taking part in the competition were Donna Ashmore Aycock, Dave Ashmore, Chris Goldman, Haynes Ashmore, Stan Tankersley, Bill Ashmore, Harold Goldman, Lacey Goldman, and Adam Aycock.

The showmanship winners were Donna Aycock, Dave Ashmore, and Chris Goldman, with Aycock receiving a $100 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse as the first-place winner of the competition.

"As the Lincoln County extension agent, I'm very proud of the growth of our livestock program and of all of the 4-Hers and parents involved in the steer and heifer show project," stated Stephens.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our many supporters, sponsors, and livestock parents and volunteers, especially John Welch and Chris Goldman, for all of their hard work and dedication. We are truly blessed."