California Ag Network

Tag: livestock showing

  • Tulare County Youth Shows Prize-Winning Cow at All American Junior Jersey Show

    MM Joel Rowyn-ET: Reserve Junior All American Four-Year-Old Cow, shown by Kamryn Kasbergen of Tulare, CA

    Twenty-eight (28) Jersey youth between the ages of nine and twenty, representing 13 states, have been recognized by the American Jersey Cattle Association (AJCA) as the 2025 Junior All American winners. A total of 175 youth exhibited 295 Registered Jerseys during the 73rd All American Junior Jersey Show, held November 7, 2025, in Louisville, Kentucky.

    2025 Junior All American Winners

    Spring Heifer Calf

    • Junior All American: HC-Rader KRock Hanna, Shelby Rader, Conneaut Lake, Pa.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Freedom Lane KR Gabriella-ET, Eli Arp, Norwalk, Ohio

    Winter Heifer Calf

    • Junior All American: Roc-N-Roll Keep My Sanity, Karlie Suplee, Mount Morris, N.Y.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Discoverys Ghost Janessa, Grace Sauder, Tremont, Ill.

    Fall Heifer Calf

    • Junior All American: Mead-Manor Joel Cinnamon-ET, Kailey Guilette, New Franken, Wis.
    • Reserve Junior All American: WOCC Nestle Chocochip, Clancey Krahn, Albany, Ore.

    Summer Yearling Heifer

    • Junior All American: Lost-Brooke CF Kid Rock Faith-ET, Makayla Osinga, Hico, Texas
    • Reserve Junior All American: Miss Triple-T Blayks Vixen, Noel Peters, Danville, Ind.

    Spring Yearling Heifer

    • Junior All American: Kash-In Veronas Vignette-ET, Eleanor Hanehan, Mount Upton, N.Y.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Freedom Lane VIP Gabby-ET, Hailey Drescher, Preble, N.Y.

    Winter Yearling Heifer

    • Junior All American: Haybail VIP Edelweiss, Sophia Delude, Machias, N.Y.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Roc-N-Roll Satisfaction, Peyton Wright, Mount Morris, N.Y.

    Milking Winter Yearling

    • Junior All American: Graybill Lollalala Adalyn, Emily Graybill, Freeport, Ill.
    • Reserve Junior All American: MM Chocolatier Aveda-ET, Clancey Krahn, Albany, Ore.

    Milking Fall Yearling

    • Junior All American: Locust-Ayr Victorious Hot Sauce, Kaitlyn Dowling, Taneytown, Md.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Kilgus Askn Gelato, Carla Kilgus, Fairbury, Ill.

    Summer Junior Two-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: BVSF Nuance Catalina, Camryn Crothers, Pitcher, N.Y.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Echos Victorious Elegant, Eli Graybill, Freeport, Ill.

    Junior Two-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: Discoverys Victorious Jujuba, Ava Kolodzienski, Beldenville, Wis.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Z-Class CC & Cranberry Juice-ET, Mason Ziemba, Durhamville, N.Y.

    Senior Two-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: Victorious Cinn-Star Bentley, Brielle Helmer, Half Way, Mo.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Roggua Kid Rock Naela, Grace Sauder, Tremont, Ill.

    Junior Three-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: Meadowridge Vitality Karlee, Alexa Anderson, Cumberland, Wis.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Gordons Joel Gracious, Abigail Gordon, Syracuse, Ind.

    Senior Three-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: Kilgus Victorious Glitter-ET, Carla Kilgus, Fairbury, Ill.
    • Reserve Junior All American: WF Golddust Angelina, Regan Jackson, Clear Brook, Va.

    Four-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: LC Reckless Armadillo, Sophie Leach, Linwood, Kan.
    • Reserve Junior All American: MM Joel Rowyn-ET, Kamryn Kasbergen, Tulare, Calif.

    Five-Year-Old Cow

    • Junior All American: Hillacres Chrome Hibiscus, Nicole Arrowsmith, Peach Bottom, Pa.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Kilgus Victorious Rylee, Carla Kilgus, Fairbury, Ill.

    Aged Cow

    • Junior All American: Kevetta Colton Delilah, Kyra Lamb, Oakfield, N.Y.
    • Reserve Junior All American: Barnabas Elsa of SLJ, Treasure Clark, Mountain Grove, Mo.

    Complete show results for the 73rd All American Junior Jersey Show are available at www.usjersey.com.

    Profiles of the Junior All American and Reserve Junior All American winners can be viewed at:

    https://theallamerican.usjerseyjournal.com/2025-junior-all-americans-reserve-junior-all-americans/

    The All American Junior Jersey Show is an annual production of the American Jersey Cattle Association. For information on sponsorship opportunities or to contribute to the Maurice E. Core Jersey Youth Fund, supporting Jersey youth exhibitors, contact the AJCA Communications Department at (614) 322-4451.

  • Salinas Teen Overcomes Adversity to Win Big at CA State Fair Livestock Competition

    With tears streaming down his face, 18-year-old Luis Gonzalez was speechless when his name was called as FFA Master Showmanship winner at the 2025 CA State Fair on July 13. He also won Reserve Champion Wether Dam Doe.

    “I just couldn’t believe it! There was a lot of tough competition out there,” said Gonzalez. “But I’ve learned that hard work will take you anywhere.”

    In this moving moment during the awards ceremony, Tom Martinez, CEO of the California Exposition & State Fair, witnessed Gonzalez’s raw emotion firsthand. “This young man was shocked when his name was called,” Martinez said. “You could see the pride flowing through his tears of excitement and disbelief. He earned this moment.”

    Gonzalez’s story is one of perseverance, family sacrifice, and resilience. His journey began when he was just nine-years-old, showing animals in local 4-H programs. He started entering more competitive shows in high school. Without access to the necessary equipment to help develop winning animals like grooming supplies, feeding and watering supplies, show equipment, and general supplies, he adjusted his methods and trained harder. His turning point came when he bought a wether and was gifted a doe earlier this year. He started raising and working with her in January of 2025, dedicating countless hours before and after school.

    Gonzalez’s journey hasn’t been without setbacks. In August 2023, while returning from the California Youth Ag Expo in Tulare, his family’s vehicle was t-boned and flipped five times. Luis was in a coma for a week, suffered a foot injury, and missed the first two weeks of his junior year while recovering in a medical boot. But instead of giving up, he came back stronger.

    “If you stay focused and put in the effort, you can achieve anything,” said Gonzalez.

    His success didn’t come alone. His entire family played a role in his achievements. His mother works long hours harvesting lettuce in the Salinas Valley, and his father supports the household through tree service labor. His older brother Jesus has been by his side every step of the way, attending shows, and motivating him to keep pushing forward.

    A recent graduate of Salinas High School, Gonzalez will attend Modesto Junior College this fall, continuing his agricultural journey with a focus on animal science. To other young agriculturalists, Gonzalez offers this advice, “Always be around people who make you better. Ask questions. Learn everything you can. That’s how you grow.”

    “The California State Fair is proud to celebrate young leaders like Luis,” said Martinez. “These are individuals who represent the best of California’s agricultural heritage, dedication, and heart.”

    About the California State Fair

    The California State Fair is an international award-winning fair, receiving top honors at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions out of more than 1,100 fairs world-wide. The California State Fair is dedicated as a place to celebrate the best the state has to offer in agriculture, technology, and the diversity of its people, traditions, and trends that shape the Golden State’s future.