Friends among competitors
Exhibitors at the 2025 Tennessee Junior Beef Expo are indeed ‘Driven to Serve’
Story by Emma Gunn Photos by Emma Gunn and Ella Hasty
In an environment built on competition, friendship and service among contenders isn’t always the norm. However, that’s exactly what you find at youth livestock competitions across the Volunteer State. The 2025 Tennessee Junior Beef Expo competition, held July 10-12 at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, was no exception.
Upcoming senior Haley Poyner of Williamson County has been showing since fourth grade and celebrated a reserve grand championship win in the Maine-Anjou market steer competition. When asked what she likes best about competing at Beef Expo, she said, “I love the community and how everybody is here for each other.”
While exploring Beef Expo, it’s easy to notice the tightknit community. Judging by the camaraderie among the exhibitors, hugs of congratulations, and laughter coming from the wash rack to the encouragement for competitors, fellowship among adults, and family gatherings, it’s an event that exhibitors and their parents look forward to all year.
Paul Henry, a parent of two showmen, compares Co-op’s mission of being “Driven to Serve” with that of competitors in the Tennessee cattle-showing industry.
“When these kids come to Expo, they are highly driven to win, but they choose to help other competitors unload and get settled,” Paul said. “If somebody has a problem, they jump in there and help. So, they truly are living the Co-op motto.”
Preparing for the competition takes hard work and dedication. The late nights of being in the barn for hours trying to halter break your steer or heifer and get your animal ready to exhibit makes every win all that much sweeter.
“Beef Expo winds up the show season,” said Paul when describing the months of hard work prior to the competition. “Expo shows what progress we’ve made throughout the year; it’s not about where we started but how we finished.”
Harmon Locke of Williamson County said he felt “honored and very happy” when his steer, named Coolio, was named Grand Champion of this year’s Beef Expo. Harmon has been showing for three years, and this was his first grand champion win at the show. His Angus was named Reserve Grand Champion in the Market Steer Show and one of his other steers in the All Other Breeds category was named Grand Champion Over All in the Top 5 Market Steers competition.
Because Expo offers a wide variety of competitions ranging from skillathon to graphic design and photography, there is something available for every young agriculturist to learn and showcase their skills.
Expo also offers a way for exhibitors to give back to their communities by participating in initiatives offered by the Tennessee Cattlemen’s Association each year. Funds raised are paid out in premiums to winners of the steer show to be used to process and harvest thousands of pounds of beef. The beef is then donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.
“Expo is really growing our next generation of cattle producers,” said Melinda Hart, director of youth programs and outreach for Tennessee’s Cattlemen’s Association.
“With Beef Expo being a second-harvest program, it also provides cattlemen a way to provide for those in need,” adds Shane Williams, financial officer at Farm Credit Mid-America in Athens. “Because young exhibitors are participating in Expo and learning more about agriculture, you might see more of these kids come back in agriculture as professionals in the industry, which is important for the future of farming.”
Next year promises to bring exciting opportunities for exhibitors — especially for those willing to put in the hard work necessary to take home championship titles. But no matter what, new friends and life-changing experiences will be made along the way.
A young showman cools off his heifer with a bath before heading into the showmanship ring.
Elizabeth McCollum from Williamson County demonstrated precise control and strong showmanship skills as she maneuvers her Limousin steer.
A father and son get ready to show in the market steer competition, going over what to look for in a good steer while the son prepares to show his steer in the upcoming round.
Harmon Locke of Williamson County and his market steer, Coolio, remain cool under pressure as the judge studies both steer and exhibitor, later choosing his steer as the Grand Champion Overall winner of this year’s 2025 Beef Expo.
Beef Expo Results: Beef Showmanship: Senior II: Avery Rowlett, Wayne, champion; Evan Jackson, Decatur, reserve; Senior I: Grant Kuhn, Coffee, champion; Van Richardson, Union, reserve; Junior-High: Emma Locke, Smith, champion; Lona Sims, Humphreys, reserve; Junior: Josie Ozburn, Bedford, champion; Caroline Huebner, Obion, reserve; Explorer: Audrey Kerrigan, McMinn, champion; Kenzie Lee, Fentress, reserve. Dairy Steer Show: Holstein — Lucas Melton, Monroe, champion; Joseph Henry, McMinn, reserve. Market Steer Show: Angus — Roland Springer, Wilson, champion; Harmon Locke, Williamson, reserve. Hereford/Polled Herford — Lucas Berner, Obion, champion; Stetson Hoilman, Carter, reserve. Limousin/LimFlex — Elizabeth McCollum, Williamson, champion. Maine-Anjou — Alex Cunningham, Washington, champion; Haley Poynor, Williamson, reserve. ShorthornPlus — Ruby McClure, Henry, champion, Jamison Johnston, Claiborne, reserve. Percentage Simmental/Sim-Angus — Lucas Berner, Obion, champion; Caden McKnight, Monroe, reserve. Crossbred — Ella Coleman, Houston, champion, Cole Armstrong, Williamson, reserve. Prospect Steers — Case Halliburton, White, champion; Blaire Lamon, Henry, reserve. All Other Breeds — Harmon Locke, Williamson, champion; Jake Ozburn, Bedford, reserve. Top 5 Market Steers — Harmon Locke, Williamson, champion overall; Alex Cunningham, Washington, reserve overall; Ella Coleman, Houston, third overall; Elizabeth McCollum, Williamson, fourth overall; Cole Armstrong, Williamson, fifth overall.
Commercial Heifer Show: Commercial Heifer — Laine Whipple, Henry, champion; Gavin Kuhn, Coffee, reserve; Abigayle Houser, Bledsoe, champion farm-bred; Emma Locke, Smith, reserve champion farm-bred. Angus — Jackson T Overbay, Hawkins, champion; Luke Barnett, Montgomery, reserve; Caden McKnight, Monroe, champion bred-by-exhibitor; Abby Newberry, reserve bred-by-exhibitor. Charolais — Cashton Ochsner, Fentress, champion; Elijah Hancock, Wilson, reserve. Registered Heifer Show: Gelbvieh/Balancer — Sam Gravely, Wilson, champion; Roland Springer, Wilson, reserve; Sam Gravely, Wilson, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor. Hereford/Polled Hereford — Benton McClanahan, Humphreys, champion; Caroline Garrell, Lincoln, reserve; Caroline Garrell, Lincoln, champion bred-by-exhibitor, Josie Harville, Smith, reserve bred-by-exhibitor. Limousin/LimFlex — Josie Ozburn, Bedford, champion; Jake Ozburn, Bedford, reserve; Josie Ozburn, Bedford, champion bred-by-exhibitor; Jake Ozburn, reserve bred-by-exhibitor. Maine-Anjou — Marley Luster, McMinn, champion; Ellie Hensley, Unicoi, reserve; Case Halliburton, White, champion bred-by-exhibitor. Red Angus — Gunnar Giffey, White, champion; Grant Giffey, White, reserve and champion bred-by-exhibitor, Van Richardson, Union, reserve bred-by-exhibitor. Shorthorn — Ruby McClure, Henry, champion; Jackson T. Overbay, Hawkins, reserve; Dallas Bomar, Henry, champion bred-by-exhibitor. ShorthornPlus — Gatlin Gulish, Henry, champion; Alex Cunningham, Washington, reserve; Dallas Bomar, Henry, champion bred-by-exhibitor. Simmental — Evan Jackson, Decatur, champion; Audrey Kerrigan, McMinn, reserve; Jackson Houser, Bledsoe, champion and reserve bred-by-exhibitor. Percentage Simmental/Sim-Angus — Ellie Hensley, Unicoi, champion; Marley Luster, McMinn, reserve; Bryant Locke, Smith, reserve bred-by-exhibitor. All Other Breeds — Kelbie Rowlett, Wayne, champion; Ethan Bartee, Robertson, reserve. Top 5 Heifers — Cashton Ochsner, Fentress, champion overall; Evan Jackson, Decatur, reserve champion overall; Jackson Overbay, Hawkins, third overall; Ellie Hensley, Unicoi, fourth overall; Kelbie Rowlett, Wayne, fifth overall. Supreme Champion Bred by Exhibitor: Grand Champion — Josie Ozburn, Bedford, Limousin. Reserve Champion — Grant Giffey, White, Red Angus County Groups – Heifers The winning counties and their placements: Wilson County, first; Giles County, second; Wiliamson County, third; Henry County, fourth. County Group – Steers The winning counties are Williamson, first; Henry County, second. Top 5 Market Steers Harmon Locke, Williamson, All Other Breeds, champion; Alex Cunningham, Washington, Maine-Anjou, reserve; Ella Coleman, Houston, Crossbred, third overall; Elizabeth McCollum, Williamson, Limousin, fourth overall; Cole Armstrong, Williamson, RCH Crossbred, fifth overall. Skillathon The first-place winners are Kenzie Lee, Fentress, 4th grade; Cashton Ochsner, Fentress, 5th - 6th grade; Grayce Hunigan, Sullivan, 7th- 8th grade; Turner Harville, Smith, 9th- 10th grade; Caroline Garrell, Lincoln, 11th - 12th grade. Premier Exhibitor The first-place winners are: Marker Steer — Will Zavaro, Williamson, explorer; Ruby Hunigan, Sullivan, junior; Weston Thames, Williamson, junior high; Audrey Clouse, White, senior level 1, Blaire Lamon, Henry, senior level 2. Commercial Heifer — Laine Whipple, Henry, junior; Emma Locke, Smith, junior high; Bella Black, Monroe, senior level 1; Caroline Garrell, Lincoln, senior level 2. Registered Heifer — Kenzie Lee, Fentress, explorer; Josie Ozburn, Bedford, junior; Ethan Bartee, Robertson, junior high; Ivy McGillis, Wilson, senior level 1; Ellie Hensley, Unicoi, senior level 2. Educational Contests Career Development: Elijah Hancock, Wilson, senior I; Shelby Thames, Williamson, senior II. Photography: Audrey Kerrigan, McMinn, explorer; Knox Logan, Dickson, junior; Clifton Porter, Trousdale, junior high. Poster: Audrey Kerrigan, McMinn, explorer; Knox Logan, Dickson, junior. Video Reel: William Zavaro, Williamson, explorer; Ashlynn Zavaro, Williamson, junior; Elijah Hancock, Wilson, senior I. Graphic Design: Anderson Varner, White, junior high; Ivy McGillis, Wilson, senior I; Caroline Garrell, Lincoln, senior II. Sales Talk William Zavaro, Williamson, explorer; Knox Logan, Dickson, junior; Ethan Bartee, Robertson, junior high; Turner Harville, Smith, senior I; Caroline Garrell, Lincoln, senior II. Hay Quality Contest The hay quality top three contest winners are: John Chester, Weakley, first; Jack Hutson, Henry, second; Knox Logan, Dickson, third.
An exhibitor sprays his steer with livestock grooming products to add shine and volume to its coat before the show.
