MURFREESBORO, TN—The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA) and Tennessee Cattlemen’s Youth Association (TCYA) recognized over 30 youth members for their success in the third year of the Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health points program. The winners were recognized during the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association’s virtual youth awards presentation on January 23rd.
The Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health program was created by TCA to increase youth involvement at cattle shows across the state and to create more opportunities for agriculture youth to be recognized. The program has continued to grow and draw interest from youth cattle enthusiasts across the state.
“During the third year of the Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health program, we continued to focus on increasing youth participation at cattle shows across the state and rewarding youth for their hard work in the cattle industry,” said Melinda Perkins, TCA Director of Youth Programs and Outreach. “Our Top Tier exhibitors continue to exceed our expectation with their commitment and competitiveness in the program.”
Participants can receive points in three divisions: heifers, steers, and showmanship. To receive points, exhibitors must be youth members of the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association.
Avery Rowlett from Wayne County and Collin Cook from Robertson County received top honors for the 2020 Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health program year. Rowlett was awarded show heifer of the year and Cook was awarded show steer of the year. Rowlett and Cook received a one-year lease of a 20-foot, aluminum livestock trailer.
“It is an honor and exciting to have won the Tennessee’s Top Tier Show Heifer of the Year for 2020,” said Avery Rowlett, Wayne County. “It takes a lot of hard work and determination and I am very grateful to the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association and all the sponsors that made it possible. Showing has taught me responsibility and leadership, and I have gained lifelong friends that are one of a kind!”
The other Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health winners were as follows: Top five overall heifers (listed from first to fifth): Avery Rowlett, Wayne County; Kabry Tinin, Lawrence County; Cole Lehnert, Lawrence County; Jake Ozburn, Bedford County; Kabry Tinin, Lawrence County; Maggie Lamon, Giles County; Top five overall steers (listed from first to fifth): Collin Cook, Robertson County; Cole Lehnert, Lawrence County; Parker Saum, McNairy County; Weston Rowlett, Weakley County; Addison Delaney, Henry County
Two new divisions were added this year. A division was created to recognize cattle that were raised by Tennessee cattle producers. Top five Tennessee bred heifers (listed first to fifth): Avery Rowlett, Wayne County; Cole Lehnert, Lawrence County; Cole Lehnert, Lawrence County; Jake Ozburn, Bedford County; Avery Rowlett, Wayne County. A division was also created to recognize the top two heifers in each breed. The winners were as follows: Angus- Cole Lehnert, Morgan Riley; Charolais- Jake Ozburn, Eli Mundy; Chi- Avery Rowlett, Avery Rowlett; Hereford- Mary Carter Shirley, Cole Lehnert; Limousin- Jake Ozburn, Jake Ozburn; Red Angus- Jacob Bell, Ethan Bell; Shorthorn-Kabry Tinin, Grant Funderburk; ShorthornPlus- Cole Lehnert, RoseMary Johns; Simmental- Kabry Tinin, Maggie Lamon; Percentage Simmental- Cole Lehnert, Kabry Tinin; All Other Breeds- Lucy Jo Carmack, Laci Mathews; Commercial- Shyann Smith, Kabry Tinin.
The following were the top five winners in each showmanship division, listed from first to fifth. Top five Senior Level II Showmen: Mason Collins, Marshall County (tie for 1st); Grant Funderburk, Decatur County (tie for 1st); Kaylee Rowlett, Gibson County; Jacob Bell, Dyer County; Lena Sims, Humphreys County; Adrianne Moeller, Hardin County (tie for 5th); Dustin Pitcock (tie for 5th); Top five Senior Level I Showmen: Morgan Riley, Williamson County; Weston Rowlett, Weakley County; Parker Saum, McNairy County; Eli Mundy, Clairborne County; Ethan Bell, Dyer County; Top five Junior High Showmen: Mary Carter Shirley, White County; Maggie Lamon, Giles County; Evan Jackson, Benton County; Blaire Lamon, Henry County; Walynn Maupin, Dyer County; Top five Junior Showmen:Kabry Tinin, Lawrence County; Jake Ozburn, Bedford County; Avery Rowlett, Wayne County; RoseMary Johns, Williamson County; Ransom Johns, Williamson County; Top three Explorer Showmen: Ty Maynord, Overton County; Levi Bringhurst, Wilson County; Sam Teeple, White County.
The third year of the Tennessee’s Top Tier program is now underway. Rules and a full list of shows on the points circuit can be found online at, tncattle.org/youth.
TCA is committed to the future of the beef cattle industry in Tennessee.
TCA was founded in 1985 and has more than 7,000 members from across the state and the southeast. The organization works to provide the cattlemen of Tennessee with an organization through which they may function collectively to protect their interests and work toward the solution of cattle industry problems and to build the necessary goodwill that will bring both governmental esteem and recognition to the industry.