The Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association (TCA) and Tennessee Cattlemen’s Youth Association (TCYA) recognized over 30 youth members for their success in the fourth year of the Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health points program. The winners were recognized at the TCA Alltech/Kubota Youth Awards Banquet during the annual Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association’s Convention & Trade Show, held Jan. 28-29 in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
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.
“The fourth year of the Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health program was the most exciting year to date,” said Melinda Perkins, TCA Director of Youth Programs & Outreach. “There were several new participants in the program this year, and we were able to recognize more youth for their hard work with their show cattle projects.”
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.
Maggie Lamon from Giles County and Collin Cook from Robertson County received top honors for the 2021 Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health program year. Lamon was awarded show heifer of the year and Cook was awarded show steer of the year. Lamon and Cook received a one-year lease of a 20-foot, aluminum livestock trailer.
The other Tennessee’s Top Tier sponsored by Merck Animal Health winners were as follows: Top five overall heifers (listed from first to fifth): Maggie Lamon, Giles County received 1st and 2nd place overall; Cole Lehnert, Lawrence County; Avery Rowlett, Wayne County (tied for 4th); Jaclyn Thomas, Bledsoe County (tied for 4th); Emma Armstrong, Bedford County. Top five overall steers (listed from first to fifth): Collin Cook, Robertson County; Kate Lamon, Giles County; Jake Ozburn, Bedford County; Remi Gardner, Henry County; Tyler Burks, Wilson County.
There are two additional divisions to showcase the heifer exhibitors. The Tennessee bred heifer division recognizes cattle that were raised by Tennessee cattle producers. Top five Tennessee bred heifers (listed first to fifth): Cole Lehnert, Lawrence County; Avery Rowlett, Wayne County; Evan Jackson, Benton County; Collin Cook, Robertson County; Jaclyn Thomas, Bledsoe County. The top two heifers in each breed were as follows: Angus- Maggie Lamon, Collin Cook; Charolais- Jake Ozburn, Walynn Maupin; Chi- Cole Lehnert, Avery Rowlett; Hereford- Mason Collins, Evan Jackson; Limousin- Jake Ozburn; Red Angus- Gavin Giffey, Grady Giffey; Shorthorn- Jaclyn Thomas (1st and 2nd); ShorthornPlus- Jaclyn Thomas, RuthAnn Johns; Simmental- Emma Armstrong, Evan Jackson; Percentage Simmental- Ransom Johns, Evan Jackson; Commercial- Maggie Lamon, Jonathon Hawbaker.
The following were the top five winners in each showmanship division, listed from first to fifth. Top five Senior Level II Showmen: Shyann Smith, Lawrence County; Weston Rowlett, Weakley County; Morgan Riley, Williamson County; Dustin Pitcock, McMinn County; Addison Delaney, Henry County; Top five Senior Level I Showmen: Maggie Lamon, Giles County; Emma Armstrong, Bedford County; Lila Sims, Humphreys County; RuthAnn Johns, Williamson County; Abigail Henry, McMinn County; Top five Junior High Showmen: Evan Jackson, Benton County (tie for 1st); Kate Lamon, Giles County (tie for 1st); Avery Rowlett, Wayne County; Clay Pitcock, McMinn County; Cole Armstrong, Bedford County (tie for 4th); Remi Gardner, Henry County (tie for 4th); Caden Delaney, Henry County; Top five Junior Showmen: Ransom Johns, Williamson County; Landon Ellison, Lawrence County; Jake Ozburn, Bedford County; Ty Maynord, Overton County (tie for 4th); Sam Teeple, White County (tie for 4th); Sara Kate Walker, Marshall County; Top three Explorer Showmen: Jaclyn Thomas, Bledsoe County; Braden McClanahan, Humphreys County; Lyla Conner, Maury County.
The fifth 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
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