In 2018, we had the industry decided who the 2018 Best of the Barns Show Steer of the Year would be. It was a tough and close race, but Tenley Mefford was able to get her Champion to the top. Here is the winner’s profile of our 2018 Show Steer of the Year:
2018 Show Steer of the Year: “BEAST” – Grand Champion Steer at the 2018 Oklahoma Youth Expo
Showman: Tenley Mefford
Age: 13
Town: Frederick, OK
School: Frederick Middle School
Grade: 8th
Years Showing: 5 Years
Breeds Shown: Crossbred, Shorthorn, Chianina, and Maintainer
What made your 2018 Oklahoma Youth Expo Champion Steer special to you and your family?
Tenley: Winning Oklahoma Youth Expo and having Beast named Show Steer of the Year was honestly beyond our wildest dreams. When we were walking down the ramp for the Grand Drive, my Dad and Colby (Collins) were giving me some last-second instructions, my Dad handed me the lead, Beast nudged me and was like “Let’s go get this”. Beast was truly my buddy. Little did we know he would selected as Show Steer of the Year. It is something that we will cherish forever as a family.
Is he your all-time favorite show animal?
Tenley: Yes, because he had the prettiest hair and was so fluffy.
What is your favorite show to go to and why?
Tenley: Definitely, OYE. The Grand Drive is just so awesome to watch. My friends and I do the showmanship, the fitting contest and it’s so much fun seeing old friends and making new ones.
What is your least favorite show day activity?
Tenley: It would have to be loading up the tack and going home.
Photo shared from Taylor Gazda
What do you like to do outside of the barn/show ring?
Tenley: Other things I like to do outside of the show ring are playing basketball and singing in the school choir.
What is your favorite thing about showing cattle?
Tenley: Trying to make the cattle better.
Who is someone you’d like to thank your show ring success?
Tenley: My family, the Collins Family and Brelan Brookshire, but there are a lot of people that have helped with my success.
What does being selected as 2018 Best of the Barns Show Steer of the Year mean to you and your family?
Tenley: It is truly an honor for this to have happened for myself and my family.
