ST. PAUL – Members of the five 4-H clubs that make up the St. Paul 4-H District filled the St. Paul Ag Corral with prime steers on Monday as they took part in a full day of competitions leading up to the sale that wrapped up their 2024-25 project year.
Conformation judge Colton Hamilton of Innisfail, showmanship and grooming judges Dale and Heather Brundige, and stall display judge Leo DeMoissac had difficult decisions ahead of them. The show started with opening remarks by mistress of ceremonies Courtney Werstiuk, but it was the members themselves who were the first judges of the day, divided into groups to make their decisions on groups of steers shown by 4-H leaders and parents.
Jason Boorse was tasked with tallying their decisions, with the judging awards presented near the end of the day.
The Pen of Five competition was next on the agenda, with Boscombe 4-H members showing the first place pen and St. Lina the second place lineup
Every steer was looking its best in the next competition, with the Brundiges choosing steers from each of three groups in each age group for the final decisions. In the Senior Grooming, first place went to Ethan Yaremko, second to Kali Janz and third to Mercedes Trefenanko of St. Paul. Intermediate winners were Kurt Yaremko, Kaycee Feland of St. Lina and Odin St. Arnault of Boscombe, while junior honours went to Annabelle Amyotte, Kennedi Dechaine and Dylan Michaud, all of St. Lina.
Conformation judge Hamilton then had the challenging task of choosing two steers from each of eight classes that would return at the end of the day for the Parade of Champions, this lineup including steers shown by Nicholas Agnemark, Boscombe; Hailey Danyluk, Elk Point; Annabelle Amyotte, St. Lina; Ryder Jodoin, St. Lina; Hayden Feland, St. Lina; Matthias Agnemark, Boscombe; Daxon Amyotte, St. Lina; Odin St. Arnault, Boscombe; Josee Lavoie, St. Paul; Sierra Robinson, Goodridge; Kali Janz, Goodridge; Tyson Kotowich, Elk Point; Alexis Danyluk, Elk Point; Zack Germain, Elk Point; Morris Amyotte, St. Lina; and Remi Amyotte, St. Lina.
Then it was time for Showmanship, with Landon St. Arnault, Boscombe; Sade Dunlop, Boscombe; and Brody Trefenanko, St. Paul, placing first to third in the junior competition. Kurt Yaremko of St. Paul, Kaycee Feland from St. Lina, and Lennox St. Arnault of Boscombe took the intermediate wins, and Shyanne Klatt of Elk Point, Ethan Yaremko of St. Paul and Tyson Kotowich of Elk Point, won the senior division.
Judging winners
The afternoon wrapped up with the announcement of the judging winners.
Individual judging awards went to junior members Rebecca Elsen, Dylan Michaud and Ryder Jodoin of St. Lina, intermediate members Kurt Yaremko, Payslee Trefenanko and Emma Lavoie of St. Paul and seniors Ethan Yaremko, St. Paul, Hailey Danyluk, Elk Point and Kali Janz, Goodridge.
The members also judged as clubs, with Club Judging awards going to St. Paul, first place, Goodridge, second, and Elk Point in third.
Stall Display wins went to Boscombe and Goodridge, with judge Leo DeMoissac commenting on the well-mannered members and the way the older members assisted their younger counterparts.
Parade of Champions
As the top 16 steers returned to the ring, judge Colton Hamilton said, “The quality in this ring is very impressive, but I’ve got two favourites.”
Making a final tour around the lineups of impressive steers, he stopped to shake hands with St. Lina 4-H member Hayden Feland, at the halter of the 1,388-pound Grand Champion, and Elk Point 4-H Beef Club president Tyson Kotowich, with his 1,701-pound Reserve Champion.
In the sale that followed, the Canalta Hotel purchased the Feland steer for $6.75 per pound, and Xtreme Oilfield purchased the Kotowich steer for $7.25 per pound.
