LA SALLE, Ill. — The LaSalle County Stockman’s Association’s 16th annual Harvest Rewards Banquet was held at Senica’s Oak Ridge in La Salle. A crowd of over 225 joined in honoring La Salle County’s outstanding young people who raise and show breeding livestock.
La Salle County Stockman’s President Terry Patyk welcomed and thanked those in attendance for coming to honor and recognize the youth of La Salle County.
“This evening is our way to encourage and recognize La Salle County youth in agriculture,” he said.
The Grand and Reserve Champion Market winners from the 2019 La Salle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair were recognized followed by a live auction of their champion market animals.
The Grand Champion Market Animal winners who auctioned their animals were: Beef steer, Nolan Lukach; barrow, Bernadette Dittmer; lamb, Karly Reel; goat and pen of chickens, Hueston Wilson; and dairy, Hannah McNelis.
Reserve Grand Champion Market Animal winners who auctioned their animals were: Beef steer, John Tyson Lukach; barrow, Jacob Black; and lamb, Nick Angus.
Rate of Gain Steer/Premier Carcass was awarded to Dalton Walter.
“Win-A-Show-Animal” essay contest winners were announced. The topic of the 250-word essay was “Why I want to win a show animal.”
Animals from beef, swine and goat breeds were donated and given to the winners. These animals will be shown in July at the La Salle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair.
This year’s beef winner was Teresa Dittmer, receiving a heifer donated by Schafer Stock Farm, Owaneco. The swine winner was Jenna Moritz, receiving a hog donated by Brockman Farm, Verona. The goat winner was Mia Gross, who received a goat donated by Woodside Farm/Robson family, Marseilles.
2019 winners of the Grand Champion Breeding Animals recognized and honored were: Heifer, Dalton Walter; gilt purebred and gilt crossbred, Carter Meyer; ram, Nick Angus; ewe, Jessica Reel; and doe goat, Hueston Wilson.
2019 winners of Reserved Grand Champion Breeding Animals were: Heifer, Clay Sundberg; gilt purebred, Cassie Simons; gilt crossbred, Carter Meyer; ewe, Jessica Reel; ram, Kara Killelea; and doe goat, Ethan Robson.
Showmanship winners from the 2019 La Salle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair were announced and recognized in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior divisions of each animal breed.
In the beef category, Beef Junior Showman was John Tyson Lukach; Beef Intermediate, Ian Sundberg; and Beef Senior, Clay Sundberg.
In swine category, Swine Junior Showman was Brayden Wilson; Swine Intermediate, Carter Meyer; and Swine Senior, Teresa Dittmer.
In the goat category, Junior Showman was Brayden Wilson; Goat Intermediate, Bianca Riley; and Goat Senior, Hueston Wilson.
In the sheep category, Junior Showman was Kieran Black; Sheep Intermediate, Karly Reel; and Sheep Senior, Nick Angus.
In the Dairy Showmanship category, Junior Showman was Hannah McNeilis; and Dairy Senior, Miriam Hoffman.
The 2019 La Salle County Master Showmanship winner was Clay Sundberg. Sundberg also was the 2019 Illinois State Fair Master Showman and a team member of the first place National Livestock Judging Team which competed in Scotland.
Other youth recognized were Miriam Hoffman, who just completed her term as the 2018-19 Illinois State FFA secretary; Streator High School student, Jacob Black, 2019 Illinois FFA Grain Production winner; and Streator High School student, Lance Moritz, 2019 Illinois FFA Diversified Horticulture winner and a top four winner at the 2019 FFA National Organization Convention.
The La Salle County Stockman’s Association awarded $1,000 scholarships to Ava Marshall of Leland, who is attending the Joliet Junior College and majoring in ag communications; and Lane Weber of Seneca, a student at Joliet Junior College.
One Lifetime Membership was presented to the Guy Mann family. The 2019 Stockman of the Year Award was presented to Larry Goodbred of Tonica.
For 16 years, the Stockman’s Association has provided the platform to return over $250,000 to the youth of La Salle County through programs such as the animal essay contest; scholarships; sponsorship of various classes at the FFA fair, La Salle County 4-H Show and Junior Fair and the Mendota Tri-County Fair; breeding awards; and the Live Market Animal Auction.
Stockman’s Association officers for 2019-20 are President Terry Patyk, Vice-President Larry Goodbred, Secretary Laura Paytk and Treasurer Mary Ellen Goodbred.
The 2020-2021 Board of Directors are Ken Bernard, Floyd Crane, Andy Goodbred, David Isermann, George A. Lukach, Chris Over and Ralph Walter.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month at various locations throughout the county. Find the La Salle County Stockman’s Association on Facebook for more information.