The Ohio Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) hosted the Best of the Buckeye show at the Ohio State Fair on July 27 through Aug. 7 during the junior shows.

The Best of the Buckeye program is coordinated by OCA and held in conjunction with the Ohio Beef Expo and Ohio State Fair. The Best of the Buckeye program had a strong year with more than 250 head of cattle nominated by youth and breeders, adding more registered animals to the show and doubling the number of classes for several breeds.

The program recognizes top Ohio bred, born and registered calves, along with the breeder and exhibitor, in each breed division at the two shows. Best of the Buckeye provides Ohio seedstock breeders with an enhanced marketing opportunity for Ohio bred, born and registered steers and heifers, creates a source of more moderately priced show steers and heifers by providing a program with awards and prestige, and attracts new participants interested in showing at the Ohio Beef Expo and/or the Ohio State Fair.

This year’s generous sponsors were Garwood Cattle Co., heifer division; Jones Show Cattle and R.D. Jones Excavating, steer division; and Franklin Equipment, scholarship division. An amount of $45,000 was presented between the two shows in the form of premiums, scholarships and awards. Every winning Best of the Buckeye exhibitor received a basic premium of $300 for champion, $200 for reserve champion, and $100 for third overall. Ohio breed associations also contributed additional premiums. OCA would like to thank these sponsors for contributing to a successful year of the Best of the Buckeye program.

The local winners of the Ohio State Fair event were as follows:

Reserve Champion MaineTainer Heifer

Exhibitor: Cole Hiser, Milledgeville

Breeder: Clayton Boyert, Seville, Ohio

Total premium: $200; and

Reserve Champion Maine-Anjou Steer

Exhibitor: Victoria Waits, Washington Court House

Breeder: Chet, Chris & Ryan Rinkes, Harrisville, Ohio

Total premium: $200