ARDMORE — Ten youth from eight southern Oklahoma counties proved the best at producing high-quality beef, and walked away with money awards ranging from $750 to $2,500 in the annual Noble Foundation-sponsored Junior Beef Excellence Program.

Lucas Reyher, a Comanche 4-H member, entered the Grand Champion beef, leaving the awards program not only with a $2,500 check, but also the winner’s jacket. In all, the Noble Foundation paid $12,500 in prize money to the top 10 winners.

Placing second in the competition was Barrett Butler, Ringling, claiming a $2,000 cash award.

Other winners were: 3rd, Jessica Maxwell, Marlow, $1,500; 4th, Joshua Hartin, Madill, $1,250; 5th, Seth Temple, Elmore City, $1,000; 6th, Shirah Reyher, Comanche, $950; 7th, Spencer McGuire, Loco, $900; 8th, Kristy Maxwell, Marlow, $850; 9th, Joni White, Wilson, $850; and 10th Taylor Sparks, Wilson, $750.

This year, the Reyher name proved dominant in the contest, with siblings Lucas and Shirah both placing in the money. Last year, brother August took home the Grand Champion honors, keeping the top prize money in the family two consecutive years. Lucas placed second in the competition in 1999 as well.

“The level of participation is about the same as last year,” said Shan Ingram, NF Education and Special Projects Manager and Junior Beef Excellence Program co-coordinator. “Overall, the averages (in the various areas of carcass competition) are about the same, but the top end is getting better. I think the winners this year were the best they’ve ever been.”

In all, 58 young producers entered 65 animals in the annual beef competition. Seventy-five people entered the youth and adult categories of the live animal evaluation contest — 19 in the 4-H division, 13 in FFA, 38 in adults, and five as experts (previous adult division winners and Noble Foundation employees). Winning belt buckles in those divisions were: 4-H Division — Lindsey Knight, Stratford; FFA Division — Ginger White, Wilson; Adult Division — H. D. Stallings, Kenefic; and Expert Division — Shan Ingram, Ardmore.

In that competition, after entrants weighed in their animals on March 17, they tried their hand at evaluating five steers on display.

Fred Schmedt, NF agricultural economist and Junior Beef Excellence Program co-coordinator, said the live animal evaluation contest “makes participants aware of the difficulty in trying to judge the true value of beef cattle just by looking at the ‘cover’.”

Winners were announced April 4 at the awards and education program hosted by the Noble Foundation at the Southern Oklahoma Technology Center, next to the NF Headquarters east of Ardmore.

Presenting an educational program before announcing the winners was Dr. Fred Ray, animal foods specialist with Oklahoma State University’s Cooperative Extension Service.

This is the fifth year for the expanded format of the beef contest. Entrants must be from Carter, Garvin, Jefferson, Johnston, Love, Marshall, Murray, or Stephens counties. All animals entered must have been shown earlier in an area county junior livestock show. The entry animals were transported to Ardmore, weighed, then sent to the Excel, Corp. packing plant in Plainview, Texas.

Information about next year’s program and competition can be obtained from coordinators Shan Ingram and Fred Schmedt by calling the Noble Foundation at (580) 223-5810, or accessing the NF Junior Beef Excellence Program Website at www.noble.org/Ag/Jrbeef.

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Group Photo Cutline: Winners in the annual 2001 Noble Foundation Junior Beef Excellence Program were, left to right: Kristy Maxwell, Marlow, 8th; Seth Temple, Elmore City, 5th; Jessica Maxwell, Marlow, 3rd; Joni White, Wilson, 9th; Shirah Reyher, Comanche, 6th; Lucas Reyher, Comanche, 1st; (back) Spencer McGuire, Loco, 7th; (front) Barrett Butler, Ringling, 2nd; and Joshua Hartin, Madill, 4th. Not pictured is Taylor Sparks, Wilson, 10th.

Individual Jr. Beef Winner Photos: Lucas Reyher, Comanche, 1st Place | Barrett Butler, Ringling, 2nd Place | Jessica Maxwell, Marlow, 3rd Place | Joshua Hartin, Madill, 4th Place | Seth Temple, Elmore City, 5th Place | Shirah Reyher, Comanche, 6th Place | Spencer McGuire, Loco, 7th Place | Kristy Maxwell, Marlow, 8th Place | Joni White, Wilson, 9th Place | Taylor Sparks, Wilson, 10th Place (photo not available)

Live Animal Evaluation Winners: 4-H Division - Lindsey Knight, Stratford | FFA Division - Ginger White, Wilson | Adult Division - H. D. Stallings, Kenefic | Expert Division - Shan Ingram, Ardmore