by Rachel Hunter
The 2023 Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Open and 4-H Beef Cattle Show was held in the Harry Parow Memorial Cattle Showring on the Gouverneur Fairgrounds on Wednesday, August 2. Beef Cattle Superintendent John Hunter of Gouverneur opened the competition to both purebred beef cattle and dairy-beef entries this year.
The Open and 4-H Beef Show was evaluated by Steve Ledoux of Adirondack Beef Company in Croghan.
Supreme and Grand Champion went to a Red Angus cow, Phillips Mildred 922, with calf, Max, at side, exhibited by Otter Creek Cattle Company in Redwood. Reserve Grand Champion went to the White Park yearling heifer, Whitmore’s Molly, exhibited by Whitmore Family Farm in Gouverneur. Both exhibitors are making plans to exhibit their beef cattle at the New York State Fair.
The Overall Dairy-Beef Champion was a Wagyu-Jersey crossbred finished steer, Willy, exhibited by Graham Rozler of Cowbell Acres in Canton. Reserve went to a prospect steer, Roc-Val Rayne, exhibited by Harlin Brown of Richville. Reserve Senior Champion went to a finished steer over 1,000 pounds, exhibited by Otter Creek Cattle Company. Reserve Junior Champion and Calf Champion was won by Whitmore Family Farm in Gouverneur. More ribbons were presented in the 4-H and open competition for the exhibitors’ quality entries in the breed classes.
4-H’er Luke Steifel of Otter Creek Cattle Company in Redwood won Overall Master Showman and the Junior Master Showmanship honors. Reserve Master Showman went to 4-H’er Isabella Perretta of Canton who was also named Senior Master Showman. The Reserve Junior Master Showman went to 4-H’er Kelsey Whitmore of Whitmore Family Farm in Gouverneur. The Reserve Senior Master Showman went to Ty Steifel of Otter Creek Cattle Company in Redwood. Chloe Whitmore received a Cloverbud ribbon for her participation, and Graham Rozler of Cowbell Acres in Canton, and Harlin Brown of Richville received blue ribbons for their participation in the 4-H showmanship classes.
The exhibitors who competed in the 4-H and Open Beef Show were also allowed entry into the first-ever Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair Beef Cook-Off Contest. A trophy and $100 gift card to J & S Feed and Outdoors in Gouverneur was presented to the top winner, Cowbell Acres in Canton. Other participants included the following: Otter Creek Cattle Company in Redwood, Roberts Family in Heuvelton, and Whitmore Family Farm in Gouverneur. The judges were Fair President Beth Martin, Jerry Sauls of J & S Feed and Outdoors in Gouverneur, and Floyd Rood of Hermon. The winning entry was awarded for its exceptional taste, appearance, texture, and more. All exhibitors in the 4-H and Open Beef Show are encouraged to consider entering the Second Annual Beef Cook-Off at the 2024 Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair.