Tuesday was a big day for the beef show at the Lawrence County Junior Fair with feeder calves, steers, heifers and breeder cattle competing.

At the end of the competition, 10 students who participated in the beef show were given special cash awards in a sweepstakes contest.

Prizes ranged from $25 to $250 with Cody Myers receiving the top prize.

“Of these sweepstakes, we take a combination of the highest placing in the regular show where we judge the animal, their Skillathon place and their showmanship placing,” said Laura Jane Murphy, 4-H extension agent. “We have donations of money and we gave away $1,000 to the top 10 places.”

Some of the objectives of 4-H beef projects are to aid in the development of young men and women into responsible American citizens teaching responsibility, managing money and sportsmanship.

Projects also help young people have an appreciation for the importance of growth and development of breeding animals.

They also gain skills in raising beef, grooming and showing steers and heifers.

Cody Myers, 14, of Waterloo, had the grand champion feeder steer and he was first in his class for feeder steer (357-415 pounds). This is his fifth year in the competition and the past two years, he won overall champion.

Clay Fulks was second in feeder steer (357-415 pounds) and Ann-Michal Dyer was third in the class.

Autumn Keathley, 10, of Willow Wood, was first in her class for feeder steer (474-576 pounds) and she also had the reserve champion. This was her first year to compete.

Brenna Morris was second in the feeder steer (474-576 pounds) and Justin Payne was third.

Evan Herrell, 14, of Willow Wood, was first in his class for feeder steer (439-467 pounds) and third in overall champion. He has been in the show for five years and had grand champion the first year he started.

Tyler Dickess was first in feeder calf (246-348 pounds), Jeffery Huff, second, and Cheryl Ann Crawford, third. Cami Hillier was first in feeder heifer, Justin Payne second, and Alek Barker, third.

In the junior beef breeding heifer calf, Zach Sloan was in first place, Tyler Kerns, second and Justin Payne, third; senior calf, Lindsay Daniels, first place; junior yearling, Zach Sloan, first, Garrett Crawford, second, and Olivia Brock, third.

Nathan Colegrove (age 17-18 group) was first in showmanship; Dustin Wilson, 16, was first in showmanship in his age group; Justin Payne, first in ages 14-15; Cody Myers, first in age 13 group; Kasey Walker, first in age 12 group; Uriah Christian, first in showmanship, age 11; and Autumn Keathley, won first in the 8 to 10 age group for showmanship.

The senior showmanship winner was Nathan Colegrove and junior showmanship winner as Kasey Walker.