Denton Ohlrichs, Merrill, beams with pride after his steer was named grand champion market beef at the Plymouth County Fair on Friday. It was the 10-year-old boy's first time showing at the beef show, but inexperience didn't prevent him from being named one of the top two beef junior showmen. This steer first won the Division One championship. Denton also had the Division Two champion steer. [Click to enlarge]

Denton Ohlrichs made his debut appearance as a showman at the Plymouth County Fair beef show on Friday.

It was a day the 10-year-old Merrill boy will never forget.

His chances for winning the grand champion market beef trophy looked good after the two steers he showed took top places in both divisions during the show. Those steers competed with the champion heifer, shown by Colton Beaulieu, Sioux City, and the champion performance beef, shown by Mitchell Hoefling, Merrill.

Ohlrich's Division One heavyweight steer, weighing 1,240 pounds won the top spot. After the grand champion was named, the reserve champion Division One steer, a heavyweight exhibited by Blake Hoefling, Merrill, moved into the top four to be considered for the number two market beef honor. Blake Hoefling's 1,230-pound steer was named the overall reserve champion.

Mitchell Hoefling's performance beef winner weighed 1,350 pounds and had an average daily gain (ADG) of 3.20 pounds. The reserve champion performance beef was shown by Aaron Britt, Le Mars. Britt's 1,260-pound steer had a 2.93 ADG.

A steer exhibited in the performance beef competition by Nick Schroeder, Le Mars, had the top ADG of 3.79 pounds.

Heifers in the market heifer competition were required to have a minimum 2.0 ADG to be considered for the top two honors in their class. That eliminated about half the competition in the lightweight and medium weight divisions for the heifers.

Beaulieu's champion heifer, weighing 1,380 pounds, was the heavyweight heifer winner before being named the champion heifer. Allison Junck, Hinton, showed the reserve champion heifer, a heavyweight that tipped the scales at 1,270 pounds.

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Animals in the market steer contest had to have a minimum ADG of 2.2 pounds to be considered for the top two placements in each class. That eliminated four of the eight steers in the Division One lightweight competition. Only one steer missed the 2.2 ADG in the Division One medium weight class, and it wasn't a problem in the heavier classes.

Ohlrich's Division Two champion was a 1,340-pound steer that competed in the medium weight division. Jordan Nothdurft, Sioux City, showed the reserve champion Division Two steer. It weighed 1,280 pounds.

The breeding beef show was held prior to the market beef competition.

Mitchell Udell, Sioux City, showed the grand champion breeding heifer. Udell's entry first won the commercial heifer competition before vying for the top spot. A registered Maintainer heifer, shown by Jessica Webster, Akron, was named the reserve champion breeding heifer.

The beef show culminated with showmanship competition.

Judge Larry Anderson, Clarion, carried on friendly chatter with the exhibitors that he selected to compete for showmanship honors. Anderson started with the senior competitors, naming the top five from the bottom up to build suspense.

Allison Junck and Alexis Barker, Hinton, were named the top two senior showmen. Others in the top five were: David Barker, Hinton; Blake Hoefling; and Justin Plendl, Sioux City.

Mitchell Hoefling and Denton Ohlrichs were selected as the top two junior showmen. Madison Udell, Sioux City; Mitch Renken, Le Mars; and Ian Koskovich, Kingsley, were also among the top five junior showmen.