The Champion Slap

Two juniors – one exhibiting on the green shavings for the first time and one, veteran of NAILE – received the highly coveted grand and reserve champion slaps at the North American International Livestock Exposition Junior Steer Show Sunday.

Dylan Manning, 12-years-old, from West Des Moines, Iowa, won Grand Champion Junior Steer with his show-stopping steer named Wooly.

“I’m extremely excited,” Dylan said, “and still in shock that I won.”

Dylan said he only began showing steers last year, and this was his first time showing on the green shavings at NAILE. He said it took a lot of people to get his steer ready for the show, including his parents, breeder Wade Rodgers and the Rodgers family.

On the other hand, exhibitor Vada Vickland is no stranger to the green shavings. The 19-year-old from Longmont, Colorado won Reserve Champion Junior Steer, making her time showing at NAILE extra special.

“This win is huge,” Vada said. “My sister won a couple years back so this is a really big deal for us.”