National attention

Family takes showmanship to next level

by Michelle Watson

There is a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment involved in raising award winning cattle, and no one knows that better than Courtney Younge, of Ventura.  Younge, a senior at Garner-Hayfield/Ventura High School, has been collecting some impressive awards in the show ring.

In January, Younge won Reserve Winter Heifer Calf at the National Western Stock Show, in Denver, Colo.  In February, she won Supreme Grand Champion Breeding Heifer at the Iowa Beef Expo, in Des Moines.

At the Iowa Beef Expo 587 heifers were shown, with individual breed champions being chosen.  Younge won Grand Champion Angus with her heifer, Younge Greiman Hotz Lady 322, otherwise known as “Mia” to the Younges.  From there Younge went on to compete against the other breed champions for Supreme.  

“It was big shock when we won Supreme Grand Champion,” said Younge.  “Angus don’t normally win overall and to be up against other breeds and much bigger breeders was overwhelming.”

Younge, along with her younger sister, Sydney, who also shows cattle, are not new to the show ring.  The Younge sisters have been showing cattle since elementary school.  The family began with just a couple of calves, because they wanted a heifer for the county fair.  Marc Younge, the girls’ father, grew up with a cow/calf operation.  It’s only been in the last seven years that the family have raised and shown Angus cattle.

“The girls have learned a lot from showing cattle,” said Marc.  “They’ve learned that consistency and hard work pay off.  They’ve also seen our business and program grow from a local level to - Read More Via e-Edition