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Bon Accord steers average $3.60 per pound

Annual show and sale held May 25

WESTLOCK – After two years of not being able to hold their beef show and sale live, there was lots of anticipation and excitement for members of the Bon Accord 4-H at the Sturgeon Agriplex May 25.

This marked the 59th year of the Bon Accord 4-H Club, with currently counts 28 members — as well as 25 beef project members, there were also three members in the outdoor skills project.

A trio of judges, Andre Patriquin, Steven Cholak and Kevin Wiggly, had the task of selecting the winners in each of the show classes, with former club members Carlee Nikiforuk and Lisa Woywitka judging showmanship and grooming.

Robyn Young, a senior member in her 12th and final year of 4-H had her market steer Lightning chosen as show Grand Champion. Her steer started out the 4-H year at 825 pounds and finished with an ADG of 2.99 pounds. With a sale weight of 1,375 pounds, her steer was purchased at the evening sale for $5 per pound by B & B Petroleum of Morinville. She also had a carcass, heifer, and a two-year old cow/calf project. Last year, her steer was chosen as the Reserve Grand Champion.

Intermediate club member, 15-year-old Savannah Barber who’s Grade 9 student at Namao School and is in her third year as a 4-H member, had her market steer Iron-Hide chosen as Reserve Champion. It started the year at 801 pounds and finished at 1,482 pounds for an ADG of 3.37 pounds. With a sale weight 1,469 pounds, it was purchased by Fountain Tire of Grande Prairie for $4.30 per pound.

The 24 steers in the sale sold for between $2.80 and $5.20 per pound. The averages (unofficial) were 1,277.125 pounds weight, and an average sale price of $4,600.06 for an average of $3.60 per pound.

In the carcass project, first place was claimed by Colton Fenske and second went to Cassidy Fenske. The three-year-old cow /calf champion winner was Jace Walsh, while the two-year-old cow/calf winner was Robyn Young, who also won first place in the heifer class. Tanner Fenske won first place in the junior steer competition. First place in the intermediate steer class - split No. 1 was Savannah Barber, with first place in intermediate Steer and split No. 2 was Jace Walsh. The showmanship champion was Colton Fenske and grooming champion in the intermediate class was Blake Bielert. In senior steer competition, Robyn Young won first place in conformation, with Brooke-Lynn Finnerty taking first in showmanship.

Gordon Fuhr Award

Eighteen-year-old Brooke-Lynn Finnerty, a Grade 12 student at Sturgeon Composite High School and an eight-year member of the Bon Accord 4-H Club, was chosen as the 2022 recipient of the Gordon Fuhr Award handed out at the show.

First presented in 2005, the awards goes to a member who best represents the ideals of Gordon Fuhr, for his “prominent leadership, eminent volunteering and outstanding community citizenship.”

Fuhr, who was inducted into the Alberta 4-H Hall of Fame in 1996, founded the Riviere Qui Barre 4-H Beef Club which folded a few years ago due to lack of members. He is a long-time supporter of 4-H and agriculture in general, including Farmfair. 

Unfortunately, due to ill health, Fuhr was unable to attend the Bon Accord show this year. The award was presented by former Bon Accord Club leader Colleen Prefontaine, a long-time friend and one who worked alongside Fuhr at 4-H shows over the years.

In presenting the award, she said she had taken the letters from members to the hospital and read them to Fuhr, who made the final choice. She told the crowd that Fuhr is one who could sound gruff, and that she would tell him that to his face, but you knew inside, he was all heart for 4-H members, and wanted only the best for them and from them.

A senior cub member, Finnerty said in her bio, she is very proud of all the members for working hard and diving right back into a full 4-H season. She says, “Learn to do by doing has always been important, and we all have learnt many things from our COVID years, including to appreciate the little things.”

Les Dunford, TownandCountryToday.com

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