Information submitted by
Nicolet Dilts
On October 18th, Lassen County standout Maddi Johnson and her heifer Mary competed in the NILE Merit Heifer Show at the NILE Stock Show in Billings, Montana.
Johnson, a Class of 2024 NILE Merit Heifer recipient, traveled to Charlo, MT in October of 2023 to pick up her heifer, which was donated to her by Kyia Hendrickson and Reid Janish of Summit Livestock. Johnson was one of twenty-five youth selected to participate in the program from across the US and the only youth from California.
To apply for a NILE Merit Heifer, candidates must be between the ages of 12 and 16 by June 30th of the program year that you apply and an active member of 4-H or FFA. Selected recipients are awarded a heifer based upon merit, future goals, and ability to care for the heifer.
Maddi has spent the last ten months attending monthly meetings, providing financial reports, working with her donors on nutrition plans, and traveling the west coast attending stock shows with her heifer to get ready for the NILE.
The NILE Merit Heifer competition had multiple components that Maddi had to prepare for including compiling a record book, competing in an interview contest and of course showmanship and the heifer show itself. The most coveted award however was the Top Herdsman award in which the youth accumulated points throughout the entire project January-October of 2024.
Monthly attendance to meetings, financial reports, assignments and participation at the NILE Stock Show itself were all considered for this overall award.
The youth and their heifers checked in on October 17th to NILE Merit Heifer Row in the main pavilion. They were all assigned a number, 1-25, and then ear tagged again to match their stall assignment. That afternoon was the interview competition. Youth were asked questions about their involvement with the cattle industry, their projects and specific questions about their heifers.
The NILE Merit Heifer program has a Calcutta style fundraiser prior to the show on Friday afternoon. In an auction style setting the first three rounds allowed the highest bidder to pick the contestant and heifer that they believed could win the show. Summit Livestock and Friends of Maddi Johnson proudly purchased Maddi and Mary as the highest selling lot, Lot 1, of the evening. Thank you to Mark & Betsy Teesdale, Andersen Machine Works, Karl & Pamela Andersen, Walter & Stacy Kirklin and Sentimental Journey Ranch for contributing to the Calcutta fund in support of Johnson. A percentage of the money raised from the Calcutta goes to support NILE scholarships and then the remaining percentage is split between the bidder that picked the winner and the top four heifer contestants.
The heifers were judged by breed. The divisions were: Angus, Reds, Simmental, and All-Other Breeds. Mary is a Shorthorn Plus and was shown in the All-Other Breeds classification. Johnson and Mary won their breed division and were then brought back for overall Champion selection. Johnson and Mary were crowned Grand Champion of the NILE Merit Heifer Show.
While the breed shows were going on, a sideline judge was picking their top showmen to come back and compete in the showmanship champion drive. Johnson went on to earn Reserve Champion NILE Merit Heifer Showman, Top Herdsman and Top Record Book.
Johnson’s plans are to exhibit Mary at one more livestock show in November and then spoil her rotten until she calves in January (she’s earned it).
Johnson plans to exhibit the calf, when it’s old enough, locally and around the west coast in competition. She also plans to take both Mary and the calf back to the NILE in 2025 to show in the NILE Merit Heifer Progeny Pen Parade and breed shows. Maddi will continue to be a Teen Leader for the Milford 4-H Beef Project and plans to host showmanship clinics in the future for Lassen County Youth.
Johnson thanked the following sponsors, without whom, this accomplishment would not be possible: Lassen County Probation Department, Country Grown & Cowboy Sewn, Jesse Freiling & Geoff Bitle, Trish & Ramsey Wood, Jessica Meanor & James Borders, Brandon & Arlene Pratt, Dale & Chris Brown, The Hallmark Family, JT Struthers, Melissa Pickett, Denise & Michael Garzouzi, Ben & Michelle Lingenfelter, Stefanie & Jordan Flores, Jason Ingram – District 5 Supervisor, Dr. Mark & Tania Dunlap of Spring Valley Ranch, Nancy & Harry McClure, Rocking MM Club Lambs, Jarred & Cetara Rohl, Stephanie Raker & Family, Chris & Stacey Montgomery, Steele Cattle Company, Savage Feed Supply, Jennifer Griffith, Barney & Julie McKee, Darren & Julie Kirack, Edna & Raul Lepe, Milford Community Association, Ken & Irene Doyle, Colby Talley, Brandon King, The Jaso Family, The Bettencourt Family, The Rist Family and Dana Smith.
Thank you also to Van Vuren Insurance for their NILE Merit Heifer Show jackpot sponsorship in support of Maddi!
To learn more about the NILE Merit Heifer Program please visit their website at www.thenile.org or contact Shelby Shaw at 406-256-2499.
