July 24-26, 2014 marked the 87th Annual Sooner State Dairy Show which is the state junior show for all Oklahoma Junior Dairy Cattle Exhibitors held at the Payne County Fairgrounds in Stillwater, OK.
200 head of cattle were exhibited from juniors all over the state and judged by Joe D. Brand of Amarillo, TX. Those three days were special to everyone involved but EXTRA special for one Wagoner County Oklahoma 4-Her.
Alyson Conner, daughter of Galen and Jennifer Conner and Kyle and Shelly Wahnee couldn’t have had a better state show. Thursday, July 24 marked the showmanship contest, and is always extra important to her step-mom Jennifer Conner. “I always tell her go out there and do your very best, Saturday is about Jana but today is about you. She finished 2nd at the 4-State Dairy Show in Bentonville, AR so I knew what she could do, and she knows what I expect.” She lived up to the expectations and exceeded them as she was named Champion of the 11-12 year age division. I couldn’t have been more proud of her, she had worked hard all day and it paid off. By winning her age division she was then able to come back out and compete in the Supreme Showmanship class. She had a lot of fun and looked at me afterwards and said I have to learn all of the parts of the cow so she is better prepared the next time.
The morning of Friday, July 25 was the annual Sooner State 4-H/FFA Dairy Judging contest. Alyson has really enjoyed judging lately and has improved at each contest she judges at and this time was no exception. She only dropped 20 points on the day and finished the day as the HIGH INDIVIDUAL in the 4-H Judging Contest with a score of 280 out of 300, and was a member of the 2nd place team. She received a plaque and watch for her wonderful efforts. Finally, Saturday July 26 the day we had all been waiting for had arrived. It was time for Cobblestone Supreme Jana who just recently classified as Excellent 90 (E90) to shine, and did she ever. Not only is she bred due in September she is 7 years old and battling the 102 degree heat. She was 1st place Aged Cow, Champion Brown Swiss Bred & Owned Cow, and Grand Champion Brown Swiss cow. By winning the Brown Swiss show we continued to battle the heat to hang around to the very end of the show for the Supreme Champion Drive.
We all know anything can happen when it comes to the Supreme Drive so you just don’t take anything for granted. Her Supreme drive came with the Best Bred & Owned first, and Judge Joe D. Brand selected Jana as the Best Bred & Owned cow of the whole show. He then later tapped her as the Supreme Champion cow of the whole show. We were all so very happy and proud of Jana and Alyson. Galen, Alyson’s father was extra proud as this show has been in his family for over 35 years and he has never had the chance to be named Supreme Champion he always had come up short. He was glad to be able to spend this moment with Alyson. It was definitely a very nice start to the show season, and we are all looking forward to the Tulsa State Fair.
Story by Jennifer Conner, Broken Arrow OK