MARYSVILLE, Ohio — Ohio beef producers and industry leaders met to develop policy, learn about consumer preferences and beef demand and to celebrate the many achievements of cattlemen at the Ohio Cattlemen’s Assoc. (OCA) Annual Meeting and Awards Banquet Jan. 12, at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center.

More than 250 people attended the event. In addition to the annual meeting and evening banquet, there were educational breakout sessions and several youth opportunities throughout the day, including the Youth Beef Quiz Bowl and a beef quality assurance session.

Nearly 30 youth participated in this two-part contest, consisting of written and verbal rounds. The winners in the Junior Division were Lara Rittenhouse, Clark County, first place individual; Emma Yochum, Highland County, second place individual; and Tatumn Poff, Geauga County, third place individual. The top junior team included Yochum, Poff, Taylor Poff and Connor Yochum.

Winners in the Intermediate Division were Paige Phillips, Clark County, first place individual; Ellie Gehret, Clark County, second place individual; and Jared Cummings, Montgomery County, third place individual. The top intermediate team included Gehret, Phillips, Courtney Hamilton and Lara Rittenhouse.

Winners in the Senior Division were Kady Davis, Carroll County, first place individual; Allison Davis, Carroll County, second place individual; and Abbie Greer, Stark County, third place individual. The top senior team included Greer, Allison Davis, Kady Davis and Clare Soehnlen.

Scholarships were presented to outstanding youth during the luncheon: Kady Davis; Mary Baker, Wayne County; Emily Horst, Wayne County; Meredith Oglesby, Highland County; Evan Smith, Fairfield County; McKayla Raines, Adams County; Lauren Grover, Highland County; Josh Dickson, Licking County; Caitlin Koschnick, Crawford County; and Adison Niese, Richland County, each received the $1,000 Cattlemen’s Gala scholarship, funded by the 2018 event.

Erica Snook, Noble County; Natalie Wagner, Brown County; Erin Dilger-Lawrence, Licking County; and Caitlyn Gaddis, Knox County were each awarded $1,000 Tagged for Greatness Scholarships, which are funded with the sales of the Ohio Beef license plate.

Desirae Logsdon, Fairfield County; Nicholas Shaw, Greene County; Sarah Hunker, Huron County; and Quinton Waits, Fayette County, each received a $1,000 Country Club Scholarship, funded by the putt-putt course at the 2018 Ohio State Fair.

Caroline Blay, Portage County, was awarded the $1,000 Noah Cox Memorial Scholarship. Keri Felumlee, Licking County, was awarded the $1,000 William Cleland Memorial scholarship. Allison Davis was awarded the $1,000 Julie Regula Memorial Scholarship. Kinley Kreis, Muskingum County, was awarded the Saltwell Expo scholarship, funded by the Saltwell Western Store and Ohio Beef Expo.

OCA members and guests reconvened that evening for the banquet to celebrate another successful year. It concluded with OCA presenting seven prestigious awards to deserving cattlemen and supporters of Ohio’s beef industry:

Robison Farms, Mingo, Commercial Producer of the Year; Paint Valley Farms, Millersburg, Seedstock Producers of the Year; Brad Thornburg, Barnesville, Young Cattleman of the Year; Tom Price, Delaware, Industry Service; Stickel Farms, Bowling Green, Environmental Stewardship; and Bob Agle, South Vienna, Industry Excellence. 2019 was the first year for the Outstanding County Affiliate award, which was presented to the Clark County Cattle Producers.