The Ohio Cattlemen?s Association (OCA) just wrapped up their annual Cattlemen?s Camp in October at the Madison County Fairgrounds in London. This educational, fun-filled weekend included hands-on opportunities for the youth and their families to gain experience with their beef projects. Attendees were invited to bring their calf project along for on-site training to prepare for the upcoming OCA BEST show season.
Saturday camp attendees began with a session titled ?Character Traits? provided in part with event sponsor, Weaver Leather Livestock, and the morning session also included a Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) session and clipping demonstration. A beef lunch sponsored by Purina Animal Nutrition was provided to participants and their families before kicking off an afternoon of informative sessions including a hands-on clipping session and a Cattlemen?s Skillathon Quiz Bowl competition among other activities. The evening events included dinner, followed by a campfire, tailgating and big-screen televisions to cheer the Buckeyes on to victory with their fellow campers and cornhole tournament with nearly 20 teams competing.
Campers started Sunday morning off with breakfast prepared by the Madison County Cattlemen?s Association and a livestock evaluation and selection seminar presented by Hank LeVan, Ohio State University Livestock Judging Team Coach. Next up, campers attended a fitting demonstration and hands-on session with Weaver Leather Livestock professional, Jon Gevelinger, from Texas. Participants spent their day learning from one of the industry?s leading experts in daily care, clipping, fitting and showmanship. He encompassed all areas of the beef livestock project, both market animals and heifers and was on-hand to answer questions one-on-one throughout the day.
Sunday concluded with an interactive showmanship contest comprised of camp participants in three age categories. Winners of the showmanship divisions were be provided awards courtesy of Heritage Show Supply and OCA, for their efforts and skills demonstrated. As an added bonus, all camp participants ages 8 to 21 were entered into a drawing to win a new blower at the end of the Cattlemen?s Camp.
