Local competitors did very well at the recent Calgary Stampede's International Livestock (IYL) program, taking home thousands of dollars in scholarships.
The IYL program saw prizes and scholarships worth almost $80,000 given to recipients aged from nine to 20. In all, 350 competitors showed nearly 600 head of livestock.
To qualify for the IYL, competitors first competed at the Summer Synergy show in Olds in four categories: purebred beef, commercial beef, dairy and sheep.
In the cattle category at the IYL, Cremona's Chase Miller took the supreme championship ribbon for commercial.
There were four $3,000 scholarships awarded to senior-aged IYL participants, including to Sundre's Tessa Nybo and Quinci Jones of Olds.
There were also 10 $2,000 scholarships awarded, including to Innisfail's Luke Marshall and Didsbury's Andie Hadway.
Senior recipients of $1,000 scholarships including Innisfail's Ward Marshall, Innisfail's Jade Marshall, Markerville's Chad Lorenz, Olds' Lisa Jakobsen, Didsbury's Travis Hunter, Didsbury's Sam Haeni, Didsbury's Jonas Haeni, Carstairs' Shallaine Daley, Carstairs' Sawyer Daley, Didsbury's Katie Crawford, and Bowden's Zach Caukill.
In the intermediate category for participants age 12-14, five $1,000 IYL scholarships were awarded, including to Didsbury's Mytayla Miller, Innisfail's Jill McLerie, and Olds' Cassidy Matthews.
Ten $500 IYL scholarships were awarded, including to Olds' Noah Iversen and Didsbury's Josie Hadway.
Innisfail's Cache McLerie was awarded a $500 scholarship in the junior-aged category for participants aged 9-11.
In other Stampede news, Carstairs' Riley Chalack won the grand champion ribbon at the UFA Steer Classic, the country's richest steer show.
“This is probably my 10th year at Stampede. We've had a few reserve champions, but never a grand champion before. I think it's a big deal,” said Chalack.
Co-owned by Chalack, Flewelling Cattle Co., Fairland Cattle Co., Logan Chalack and Royden Anderson, the winning steer weighed in at 1,317 pounds.
The reserve grand champion and the champion in the Hereford class is co-owned by Flewelling Cattle Co., Logan Chalack, Nicona Brost, Fairland Cattle Co., and Deerview Meats.
The reserve champions included Innisfail's Crady Conway in the Hereford class.
