Local Showmen Win in Youth Beef Show
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After placing first in class with his heifer, Chevelle, at the Winter Fair in Lewistown, Cody Arnold went on to compete in the Grand Drive for overall heifer. Because he also won his showmanship class, he went on to compete in Grand Drive Senior Showmanship.
The 2020 Montana Winter Fair, which was billed as the premier event "Celebrating Montana Agriculture and Our Western Way of Life for 75 Years," is in the books. From the exhibition, four Blaine County livestock showmen and women brought home several awards.
With over twenty-five attractions, Montana Winter Fair took place at numerous locations throughout Lewistown on January 18-26. With events like Skijoring, Polar Plunge, Ranch Rodeo, Arm Wrestling, Savor the Flavors of Montana, Fiddle Contests, Art Shows, Ranch Clinics, Farm Forums, and a High Country Cowboys concert, there was something for everyone. These diverse presentations provided a showcase of the strong ties Central and North Central Montanans have to their rural, agricultural lifestyle.
At noon on Sunday, January 26, the Youth Beef Show took place at the Fairgrounds Pavilion and Sale Barn on Highway 191. Wacee Simenson was Reserve Champion Showman and won First in Class with his Angus heifer, Callie.
His brother Wylee captured Second in Class with both of his Angus heifers, Camry and Odessa, and made Grand Drive in Senior Showmanship with Odessa.
Odessa is a "bred and owned" animal, which in the cattle community means she's a heifer Wylee has raised from his own herd. "She's the first heifer from Simenson Cattle that we've raised at our ranch and started taking to these shows," the mother of the boys, Tomi Simenson stated. "Since Odessa has been competing against some tough cattle, Wylee is really excited about her future and hopes that she will produce some competitive heifers herself."
Simenson went on to say: "I'm really proud of my boys. These results are not a bad way to start off the season!"
Wacee Simenson gives his heifer Callie a "pep talk" prior to their class competition. The words must have helped, as he and Callie went on to win First in Class.
Another Chinook competitor, Cody Arnold won his class with his registered Black Angus heifer Chevelle. He also won his showmanship class with that same heifer. As a result, he made it to Grand Drive in both categories but didn't take any top prizes there.
Cody's mother Rhonda Arnold deemed her son's performance a successful one by saying, "It was a very rewarding first day of the 2020 show season."
A fourth competitor, Morgan Friede took her Futurity heifer Delilah to Winter Fair. She placed Fourth in Class for phenotype, and despite showing very well in Senior Showmanship, did not place.
The Montana Winter Fair, with roots going back to 1946, is a celebration of Montana's world-class agricultural production and enviable "western way of life."
From 1946 through 2002, the Montana Winter Fair was hosted every January in Bozeman before it re-located to Lewistown. According to event organizers, the Montana Winter Fair continues to grow each year with participants, young and old, from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota, and beyond.
