On a brisk Sunday, October 26, 2025, the Jerauld-Buffalo County 4-H grounds were filled with excitement as over seventy young participants showcased one hundred and thirteen breeding heifers and thirty-eight market prospects at the 17th Annual Springs Showdown Calf Show. The event also featured a 4-H livestock skilla- thon, allowing youth to exhibit their knowledge of livestock.
Zac and Ian Hall served as the judges for the event. The brothers, along with their families, run Hall Stock Farm in Berthold, ND, where they raise registered Angus and Simmental cattle. Zac has a wealth of experience, having successfully coached various 4-H and FFA teams that represented North Dakota at the national level, and he enjoys mentoring young livestock enthusiasts. He is currently employed by Zoetis Petcare. Meanwhile, Ian and his wife, Morgan, are busy raising their two daughters, Ryan and Jacey. Ian also works as a land agent for AcrePro in North Dakota and sells cattle feed products for ADM. The judges collaborated to evaluate the showmanship contests. For more photos, be sure to check out the Springs Showdown Facebook group.
“As a non-profit show, sponsors play a huge role in the success of this show, and we couldn’t do it without their support. Over $10,000 in sponsorships and entry fees were paid back to youth in attendance,” Erin Yost, Springs Showdown committee treasurer. “On behalf of the committee, thank you to all who support the Springs Showdown!”
Awards
Top five overall breeding heifers included: Champion, Lindsey Bonine, Beresford, SD, with a Simmental heifer; Reserve Champion, Kinsley Altena, George, IA, with a Limousin heifer; third, Brody Deinert, Mitchell, SD, with an Angus heifer; fourth, Kierra Lambert, Highmore, SD with a Simmental heifer; fifth, Rylan Thue, Lake Norden, SD, with a MaineTainer heifer.
Top five overall market beef included: Champion, Tucker Micheel, Cavour, SD, with a X-bred steer; Reserve Champion, Ellie Olsen, Irene, SD, with a Market heifer; third, Hunter Heezen, Wessington Springs with a Market heifer; fourth, Mason Lockhorst, Alcester, SD with a Shorthorn Plus steer; and fifth, Jennings Pazour, Pukwana, SD, with a Chianina steer.
Showmanship
Top five beginner showmanship winners: Champion, Ellie Olsen, Irene, SD; Reserve Champion, Remi Yost, Gann Valley, SD, third, Allison Deinert, Mitchell, SD; fourth, Thorne Radke, Mitchell, SD; fifth, Caden Schmidt, Bryant, SD.
Top five junior showmanship winners: Champion, Claire Murphy, Arlington, SD; Reserve Champion, Jennings Pazour, Pukwana, SD; third, Mason Lockhorst, Alcester SD; fourth, Hayes Eichstadt, Wolsey, SD; fifth, Brody Deinert, Mitchell, SD.
Top five senior showmanship winners: Champion, Kinsley Altena, George, IA; Reserve Champion, Alana Olsen, Irene, SD; third, Kianna Hazel, Beresford, SD; fourth, Rylan Thue, Lake Norden, SD; fifth, Teagan Scheel, Alpena, SD.
4-H Skill-a-thon Contest
Eighty-one youth competed in the livestock skill-a-thon contest. The knowledge test included breed identification, meat identification, parts identification, feed identification and quality assurance.
Top Five Beginners: First place, Cooper Holt, Brown-Jerauld County; second, Kiarra Lambert, Hyde County; third, Dylan Effling, Pennington-Jackson County; fourth, Jana Wilde, Jerauld-Buffalo County; fifth, Presley Wilde, Jerauld-Buffalo County.
Top Five Juniors: First place, Rett Blume, Hughs - Stanley County; second, Jennings Pazour, Brule County; third, Paisley Namken, Hamlin County; fourth, Hadlee Duxbury, Hand County; fifth, Hayes Eichstadt, Beadle County.
Top Five Seniors: First, Chance Blum, Brule County; second, Jayna Blume, Hughs-Stanley County; third, Teagan Scheel, Jerauld-Buffalo County; fourth, Makynna Heim, Jerauld-Buffalo County; fifth, Jacob Jung, Edmunds County.