Razorback Classic & Cattle for a Cause

The University of Arkansas (U of A) Block and Bridle chapter held their annual Razorback Classic and  Cattle for a Cause jackpot shows February 21, 2015. The show registered 31 contestants with 45 head of cattle from three states.

Hunter Burnett, chair for the club’s cattle activities, organized the show, contacted sponsors and found two excellent judges. His hard work paid off on show day when the event ran smoothly.

The judges were Brad Isbell, an Agricultural Business student at the U of A, and Rachel Glasscock, Sensory Analyst at Tyson Foods.  

“I felt privileged to provide my time for such a great group of kids working to advance the future of our industry,” Isbell said regarding the show.

The show was ran as a double-ringer, meaning after showing in one ring under one judge, the kids immediately showed in the next ring under the other judge. One ring’s entries were won back by the kids and the other ring’s entries went to a charity chosen by the U of A’s Block and Bridle members. This year the charity chosen was Horses for Healing located in Bentonville, Arkansas, and the club donated $785 to the through this event.

Horses for Healing is the largest nonprofit therapeutic riding center for individuals with special needs in Arkansas. It is one of the few centers in the country to provide services to school children around the area, thanks to a partnership with the Walmart Foundation.

Despite the rain that morning, the club had a great turnout from its members who helped make the show a success. They brewed coffee and made hot chocolate in the morning and sold muffins and donuts for breakfast. Then followed it by cooking hotdogs for lunch. Some members wrote down the placings for each ring on a clip board for our records, kept cattle moving in the rings and one member lined the calves up before each class. Their behind-the-scenes work kept the show running smoothly!

The results from the show:

Supreme Heifer, both shows, shown by Whitney Walker, SimSolution

Reserve Heifer, both shows, shown by Catelyn Walker, Exotic Commercial 

Grand Champion Bull, both shows, shown by Logan Sigmon, SimSolution

Reserve Champion Bull, both shows, shown by Jacob Tapely, Red Angus

Grand Champion Steer, both shows, shown by Mason Walker.

Reserve Champion Steer in Razorback Classic shown by Presley Smith

Reserve Champion Steer in Cattle for a Cause shown by Ben Anderson

Probably the best part of the show were the t-shirts. Usually at the end of the show the club has many extra shirts. This year, we gave each contestant a shirt and sold all but ONE and had more people calling to see if we had any extra shirts in the days that followed. 

The U of A Block and Bridle chapter would like to extend a HUGE thanks to everyone involved (from show-ers to club members) that made the show a success! We look forward to another great show next spring.

Of course our show would not be possible without our wonderful sponsors:

• ADM Alliance Nutrition/ Showtec Show Feeds
• Madison County Cattlemen’s Association
• Yeager Transport
• Four Winds Gelbvieh
• Burnett Family Shorthorns
• Marley Family Farms
• Sigma Alpha Sorority
• Yancey Simmental Ranch