Hale twins compete at Houston event
By Sandy Morris
Albany eighth graders Jake and Abi Hale recently competed in the Junior Commercial Steer Feeding and Management Contest at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.
The purpose of the contest is to encourage more 4-H and FFA members to participate in a practical beef production program.
The event heavily emphasizes feeding and management of financial costs, and exhibitors are expected to have a firm understanding of the economics associated with the beef cattle industry.
The Hale twins are not strangers to the competition with this being Jake’s fifth year and Abi Grace’s third year to participate.
Each of the teens purchased pens of three head of Charolais Angus Cross steers from the Western Livestock Commission Company in Oklahoma City on Sept. 30, 2020.
The steers were brought home where they were vaccinated and started on a feeding program of whole shell corn and ADM (Archer Daniels Midland) Beef-trate for 147 days.
All feeding is done in pens to simulate feedlot conditions and the steers are regularly weighed.
On Feb. 24, the cattle were weighed for a final time with Abi being the big winner over her brother with one steer weighing 1,400 pounds with a growth of 5.25 pounds/head/day.
In addition to feeding and caring for their steers, Jake and Abi had to spend many hours preparing for the rest of the contest, which includes a written beef science test, an interview with industry professionals, a detailed record book from day one to day 147, a mathematical closeout based on record weights and quality grades, and a meat ID quiz.
When the time for the contest rolled around, the duo loaded up their cattle and headed to Navasota, where the event had been moved from Houston due to COVID concerns.
The official scoring system is based on 100 total points, with a written test worth 25 points, interview skills 25 points, steer grades 15 points, record book 10 points, and meat ID and quiz 10 points.
The remaining areas are worth fewer points and include cost per pound on gain worth two points, average daily gain two points and feed conversion two points.
All six steers graded Choice Two and were awarded maximum performance points.
The twins were rewarded for their hard work at a premium sale on Sunday where their cattle brought from $2.00 to $2.35 per pound.
The grand prize for the competition was a 2021 Ford truck, and while neither Hale won the truck, both have plans to return next year to try again.
