August 24, 2022
County’s youth celebrate success of Junior Livestock Show

Tooele County Junior Livestock Show contestants prepared for months, and the results are in. Many of the competitors found themselves celebrating new milestones while others fell short and set out with new goals for next year’s show. 

“This was my first year in 4-H and I raised a pig,” said Peter Brubaker of Grantsville. 

Brubaker is 10 years old and finished 12th overall in Junior Hog Showmanship. The smile on his face made it evident that he was pleased with his first experience at the Junior Livestock Show.

As with any competition, those vying to become this year’s Grand Champions were out to give it their all. Raising animals for a stock show comes with early mornings and late nights. Training, exercising, and grooming the animals. Getting help from those who are more experienced, and practicing. And it was clear that this year, the talent and drive of the county’s youth was anything but lacking.

In the Breeding Sheep Show, Chloe Thomas and Reagan Pitt received the honor of showing the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Aged Ewes. Siblings Chloe and Tyson Thomas showed the Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Ewe Lamb respectively. Grand Champion Aged Ram was shown by Lance Pitt and the Reserve Champion was shown by Wyatt Faddis. And to round out the Breeding Show, Cooper Brown garnered the title of Grand Champion Ram Lamb , while Lance Pitt took home the Reserve Champion title.

In the Market Show, a judge chooses which of all the animals at the stock show is the best Market animal of its species. To earn the title of Grand Champion in the Market Competition animals must exemplify quality bone structure, conditioning, balance and size. Thus, offering more “marketability”.

Grand Champion Market Beef went to Reagan Pitt while Reserve Champion went to Justin Castagno. Baylor Hall took home the Grand Champion Market Hog title and Kimber Hall the Reserve Champion. JT Bevan garnered the title of Grand Champion Market Goat, and Lance Pitt the title of Reserve Champion Market Goat. The Grand Champion Market Lamb title went to Wyatt Faddis, and Reserve Champion Market Lamb to Tyson Thomas.

The showmanship competition is focused more on the individual, rather than the animal. But the two must work well together to find success. Judges look for the individual showman who can really show his or her animal off the best according to the rules, and expectations typical at a stock show. This takes countless hours of training both for the animal and the youth. 

The competition is fierce in Tooele County when it comes to Showmanship. This is the portion of the Stock Show where competitors are separated into age groups: Junior, Intermediate, and Senior. Here their talents and efforts are put on full display.

Grand Champion Senior Beef Showman was Sydney England, and Reserve Senior Showman was Kinsie Sessions. Grand Champion Intermediate Beef Showman went to Luke Johnson while Reserve Intermediate went to Brooklynn McCormick. Grand Champion Junior Beef Showman was JT Bevan, and Reserve was Wyatt Wrathall.

Grand Champion Senior Hog Showman was Baylor Hall, and Reserve Senior Hog Showman was Sydney England. Grand Champion Intermediate Hog Showman went to Addison Boyer, and Reserve went to Kimber Hall. Grand Champion Junior Hog Showman was Alayna Castagno, while Reserve Junior Hog Showman was JT Bevan.

Grand Champion Senior Goat Showman was Reagan Pitt and Reserve Senior Goat Showman was Sydney England. Grand Champion Intermediate Goat Showman went to Alyston Gull and Reserve to Ashton Shields. Grand Champion Junior Goat Showman was JT Bevan and Reserve was Dalley Hardman.

Grand Champion Senior Lamb Showman was Lance Pitt while his sister, Reagan Pitt, was named Reserve Champion. Grand Champion Intermediate Lamb Showman went to Wyatt Faddis and Reserve went to Alyston Gull. Grand Champion Junior Lamb Showman was Sage Grundvig while Reserve Champion was Emrie Fawcett.

Each participant at the stock show has the option to show more than one animal. Each species is very different to work with and requires the exhibitors to learn different techniques for each species they show. For those who showed multiple species, this makes showmanship even more work and adds more needed training and practice to their schedules. 

Sydney England, of Erda, gained a bit of fame this year, as she showed all 4 species in the Stock Show: a goat, a lamb, a pig, and a steer. This is the first time, in recent years, an exhibitor at the Junior Livestock Show has done so, and she says she loved every minute of it. 

“This summer my whole day seemed to revolve around my animals. I even came home early from a vacation to work with my animals more before the Stock Show,” England said. “I would start working the animals at 6 o’clock each morning before I went to work. Then I worked with the animals some more when I got home in the evening.”

This year was England’s final year of competing in the Tooele County Junior Livestock Show. Her next adventure includes attending Snow College. She has her heart set on becoming an Ag Teacher where she hopes not only to teach about Agriculture, but to help mentor the next generation of Stock Show Contestants.

“This is definitely something my whole family does. My Dad and my Uncle are always there supporting me and helping me, pushing me to do my best,” said England. “I started showing when I was 8, but I really found my passion for it when I joined FFA. I just want to help other kids learn and enjoy it too.”

JT Bevan of Tooele took home a few honors of his own; and showed 3 species at this year’s Stock Show including a lamb, a pig, and a goat.

“This is something I do with my family. I go to a lot of shows with my cousins, and it’s fun,” Bevan said. 

His dad added that JT is one of those kids that loves being with animals, if he’s stuck in the house he just isn’t happy. And his talents in the show ring left no doubt to onlookers that he has spent a lot of time and built great relationships with each of his animals. 

The longstanding tradition of the Tooele County Junior Livestock Show and Sale proved a credit to our community. 

Brookes Pitt, member of the Junior Livestock Show Committee, said that it wouldn’t happen without all the volunteers, families, and especially the sponsors and buyers who show up to support these kids each year. 

“I love the Stock Show,” said Elizabeth Brown of Grantsville. “I work with and show animals all year, and this Stock Show is kind of the end of the year of showing. It makes me happy because you get to make new friends and see old friends, but it’s a little sad too because after this the season is over and we get to start over again.”

Misty Russell is the Tooele County Fair media specialist