Breckenridge Texan

The four Stephens County 4-H’ers who make up the Range Evaluation team and the Plant ID team competed at the Texas 4-H Roundup in College Station last week and won both contests, as well as some individual awards.

The teams include Josiah Moreno, Kason Burchett, Aiden Boulevard and Isaac Tait, according to information from Jessie Shortes and Sumer Russell, Stephens County Extension agents and 4-H leaders. On Tuesday, June 4, they competed in the Range & Pasture Plant Identification contest and were named the 2024 State 4-H Champions. Moreno was the reserve champion individual, and Burchett placed fourth in Range and Pasture Grass ID.

Throughout the season, the Stephens County Plant ID teams have competed across the state and earned numerous awards. At the Fort Worth Stock Show, the Senior Plant ID Team and the Junior Team were both named Champions, and the Junior Team 2 came in fifth place. At the Farm, Ranch, and Wildlife Expo Plant ID Contest in Abilene, the Stephens County Plant ID Team came in first place with Moreno as first place individual and Evelyn Halari in third. At the Houston Livestock Show Contest, the Junior Team was Champion and the Senior Team was Reserve Champion.

On Wednesday at the 4-H Roundup, the same team of Moreno, Burchett, Boulevard and Tait, participated in the Range Evaluation competition and took the top honors in that, as well. Moreno also was named the overall champion individual in the Range Evaluation contest. Burchett placed fifth; Boulevard placed sixth; and, Tait placed seventh.

Additionally for 2024, Roundup participants had the opportunity to participate in the Quilts of Valor program, designing a quilt for a veteran. The Stephens County 4-H after school sewing club made a quilt to honor the late Dwain Brannan for his military service and presented it to his family at his celebration of life last month (click here to read a story about that project). On Tuesday, at the evening assembly, Brannan was honored by every attendee at Roundup.

The 4-H members from Stephens County participated at state-wide event June 3-6. Texas 4-H Roundup included 1,300 senior level, or high school aged, youth to compete in approximately 50 competitions, educational workshops, career learning opportunities, and more throughout the week. The contests included both qualifying events, where 4-H members qualified at their county and district contests to compete at the state level, and invitational events. Additionally, the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation awarded $2.7 million in scholarships to 229 youth.

Other Ag Accomplishments

The Breckenridge FFA and Stephens County 4-H students have represented the community at ag events all year long. Here is a look at some of their accomplishments:

2024 Miss Texas Angus

KayLee Langford

KayLee Langford was crowned the 2024 Miss Texas Angus in May. She completed the application, went through an intensive personal interview where she was questioned about everything from her involvement in the Angus breed to her thoughts on recruitment and even her clothing choices, and presented a six-minute long speech over her vision for the Angus industry in 10 years, according to the Breckenridge FFA Facebook page.

Texas FFA Foundation Ambassador

Also last month, Breckenridge FFA Reporter Kadynce Kennedy was selected to serve as a Texas FFA Foundation Ambassador this summer at the state convention in Houston.

Kadynce Kennedy

The Foundation Ambassadors serve as “face to face” hosts for special guests, sponsors and dignitaries on behalf of the Texas FFA during the largest youth led convention in Texas.

Candidates apply through a competitive application process, with emphasis on FFA involvement, individual accomplishments and community service. Ambassadors receive extensive training to prepare them for their week of service. Each student ambassador is assigned to a VIP and serves as their respective FFA host for the week.

Additionally, the ambassadors have the opportunity to experiencd firsthand the behind-the-scenes complexities of convention week.

Pecan Valley District Convention

Several Breckenridge FFA students competed at the Pine Valley District competition in April. (Courtesy Photo)

At the Pecan Valley District Convention in April in Dublin, Breckenridge FFA students competed in speaking and talent contests, as well as ran for district officer positions.

Kaylee Langford placed second in Ag Tech and Communication, Prepared Public Speaking; Rylee Fuller placed third in Extemporaneous Speaking; Sylee Mitchell placed third in Ag Policy, Prepared Public Speaking; Mackenzie Cloud placed fifth in Animal Science, Prepared Public Speaking. Cloud also ran for and was election as a Pecan Valley District Officer.

Additionally, Jack McKay and Cabel Perkins competed in the talent contest and placed third. Breckenridge students also placed second in Poultry and third in Range.

The Breckenridge FFA forage team, which includes Kason Burchett, Emillio Castorena, Miley Roberts and Glen Thibodeaux, was named Pecan Valley District Champions. As they progressed in the competitions, they were third in the area and 36th in the state.

The Breckenridge FFA Tractor Tech team was the Pecan Valley District Champions and placed third in Area IV. Individually, Emillio Castorena finished sixth and Riley Noble was seventh.

The Breckenridge FFA Forage Team and their teacher participated in several contests throughout the year. Pictured are Glen Thibodeaux, Emillio Castorena, ag teacher Austin Hanna, Kason Burchett and Miley Roberts. (Courtesy Photo)

Poultry Judging

Breckenridge FFA student Kadynce Kennedy competed in the Alvarado CDE poultry judging contest and was the first high point individual. She also came in third at the Bridgeport CDE and third at the Plano West CDE.

Trap Shooting and Archery

Sylee Mitchell and Kole Wright competed at the District 3 4-H Trap contest on May 4, and Sylee was the third overall female shooter.

Several 4-H’ers participated in the District 3 Archery contest, and first-year shooter Marielle Green won her division.

Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

At the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in January, every heifer from Stephens County placed in the top five in their class, but KayLee Langford won her class, division, and then the entire Angus show.

Here are the results from the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo’s Junior Heifer Show:

• Kaylee Langford was awarded Champion Angus with her heifer Ude Queen Ruth
• Krawford Kennedy placed third in an ORB senior heifer class with his Simmental Kenn Donna
• Kinsley Kaylor placed third in a heifer calf class with her Simmental UDE Vanz Hayleigh
• Kadynce Kennedy placed fourth in a junior heifer class with her Angus heifer, 4/B Miss Forever Lady
• Isabell Biddison placed fifth in an ORB heifer calf class with her Chianina heifer, Par Delilah

Also at the Fort Worth Barrow show, Kassidy Whitaker place seventh with her Duroc.

San Angelo Shows

Stephens County 4-H and Breckenridge FFA students participated in the San Angelo Gilt and Heifer shows in February.

In the cattle barn, Isabelle Biddison was the reserve champion ORB Senior Heifer with Miss Burch 218 and placed third in a large competitive class with her heifer Par Delilah.

Other local San Angelo results:

San Angelo Breeding gilt show:

• Aubrey Diaz – third place, Duroc
• Kassidy Whitaker – fifth place, Hampshire
• Cooper Carrion – fifth, spot
• Adison Nowak – sixth place, Duroc

San Angelo Stars gilt show:

• Adison Nowak – eighth place, Duroc
• Kassidy Whitaker – fourth place, Hampshire
• Aubrey Diaz – fifth place, Poland
• Wyatt Burns – sixth place, spot
• Addison Duncan – ninth place, spot
• Wyatt Burns – seventh place, dark cross
• Tristan Diaz – 10th place, dark cross

San Angelo Barrow show:

• Carter Carrion – seventh place, spot

San Antonio Stock Show

In the San Antonio heifer show, Krawford Kennedy was Reserve Division Champion with his ORB. Kinsley Kaylor won her Simmental class, and Kadynce Kennedy placed sixth in class with her Angus heifer.

In the San Antonio Barrow show, Adison Nowak placed 10th with her Hampshire; Slayden Young placed fourth with his Duroc (sale qualifier); and Rachel Burchett placed ninth with her Duroc.

Kyler Kanady won the team roping at the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo youth rodeo and received a $10,000 scholarship.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the Austin Barrow Show

Some notable local placings at the Houston Livestock show and Rodeo included:

• Slayden Young, third place Berkshire barrow (sale qualify), Houston
• Kason Burchett, second placed, Yorkshire barrow (sale qualifying), Austin
• Rhyder Patterson, sixth place, Dark Crossbred barrow, Austin

Cutline, top photo: The Stephens County 4-H team of Isaac Tait, Aiden Boulevard, Kason Burchett and Josiah Moreno were the State 4-H Champions in both the Range and Pasture Plant ID contest and the Range Evaluation contest at last week’s Texas 4-H Roundup statewide event. (Courtesy Photo)