The 2026 Champaign County Junior Fair Dairy Steer and Dairy Feeder Shows got underway on Tuesday afternoon after severe storms moving through the area delayed the start of the show by more than an hour and a half.
The storms knocked out power in the area, creating an additional challenge inside the show arena. A team of electricians was able to get the lights in the arena working, while other power needs were supplied by a generator, allowing exhibitors to eventually take their animals into the ring.
The Dairy Steer Show ended with Ella Vondenhuevel earning Grand Champion honors in her final year showing with her Division II champion. She describes the joy she feels and encourages the next generation to never give up.
Maverick Adams claimed Reserve Grand Champion with his Division II champion, while Avery Easton finished third overall after winning Division I.
Charli Ankrom earned fourth overall with the Division IV championship, while Mia Conley rounded out the top five with the Division V championship.
The Dairy Steer Show featured 4-H and FFA exhibitors competing across five divisions, with animals ranging from more than 1,100 pounds to nearly 1,900 pounds.
Overall Dairy Steer Results
Grand Champion: Ella Vondenhuevel – Division II
Reserve Grand Champion: Maverick Adams – Division II
3rd Overall: Avery Easton – Division I
4th Overall: Charli Ankrom – Division IV
5th Overall: Mia Conley – Division V
Vondenhuevel’s Division II champion led the final drive for the overall title, while Adams followed with the reserve champion. Easton, Ankrom and Conley rounded out the overall top five following championship performances in their respective divisions.
Dairy Steer Results
4-H Division I
Class 1
- Carter Underwood – 1st – 1,126 pounds
- Savannah Yoder – 2nd – 1,448 pounds
- Hannah Volp – 3rd – 1,368 pounds
- Cayden Love – 4th – 1,440 pounds
- Carter Underwood – 5th – 1,365 pounds
Class 2
- Avery Easton – 1st – 1,450 pounds
- Ella Vondenhuevel – 2nd – 1,498 pounds
- Wyatt Massie – 3rd – 1,468 pounds
- Hayden Underwood – 4th – 1,486 pounds
- Michael Wilhelm – 5th – 1,454 pounds
Division I Champion: Avery Easton
Division I Reserve Champion: Ella Vondenhuevel
Division I Third: Wyatt Massie
Division I Fourth: Carter Underwood
Division I Fifth: Savannah Yoder
4-H Division II
Class 3
- Maverick Adams – 1st – 1,560 pounds
- Maverick Adams – 2nd – 1,587 pounds
- Addison Corry – 3rd – 1,549 pounds
- Addison Corry – 4th – 1,577 pounds
- Hayden Underwood – 5th – 1,593 pounds
Class 4
- Ella Vondenhuevel – 1st – 1,636 pounds
- Kade Wolf – 2nd – 1,620 pounds
- Avery Gould – 3rd – 1,759 pounds
- Levi McGuire – 4th – 1,650 pounds
Division II Champion: Ella Vondenhuevel
Division II Reserve Champion: Maverick Adams – Class 3, 1st place
Division II Third: Kade Wolf
Division II Fourth: Maverick Adams – Class 3, 2nd place
Division II Fifth: Avery Gould
4-H Division III
Class 5
- Cooper Hudson Love – 1st – 1,786 pounds
- Avery Gould – 2nd – 1,912 pounds
- Cooper Hudson Love – 3rd – 1,800 pounds
- Cooper Hudson Love – 4th – 1,805 pounds
- Aiden Stidham – 5th – 1,790 pounds
FFA Division IV
Class 6
- Charli Ankrom – 1st – 1,215 pounds
- Eli Wilson – 2nd – 1,440 pounds
- Grace Bowers – 3rd – 1,435 pounds
- Eli Wilson – 4th – 1,398 pounds
Class 7
- Charli Ankrom – 1st – 1,555 pounds
- Payton Massie – 2nd – 1,588 pounds
- Kylie Hoewischer – 3rd – 1,598 pounds
- Payton Massie – 4th – 1,607 pounds
- Payton Massie – 5th – 1,576 pounds
Division IV Champion: Charli Ankrom – Class 7
Division IV Reserve Champion: Charli Ankrom – Class 6
Division IV Third: Eli Wilson
Division IV Fourth: Payton Massie
Division IV Fifth: Kylie Hoewischer
FFA Division V
Class 8
- Mia Conley – 1st – 1,638 pounds
- Mason Bandy – 2nd – 1,802 pounds
- Jayson Hoewischer – 3rd – 1,624 pounds
- Mia Conley – 4th – 1,855 pounds
Division V Champion: Mia Conley
Division V Reserve Champion: Mason Bandy
Division V Third: Jayson Hoewischer
Division V Fourth: Mia Conley
Dairy Feeder Show
The Dairy Feeder Show also featured a strong field of Champaign County 4-H exhibitors, with animals ranging from approximately 400 pounds to nearly 700 pounds.
Charli Ankrom captured the Grand Champion title to add to her already impressive summer, as she took the same Grand Champion honors at the State Fair last week. Ankrom reflects on the past few weeks and talks about her next big goals.
Elliona Blacker earned Reserve Grand Champion honors. Maverick Adams finished third overall, followed by Lacey Reed in fourth and Colette Woomer in fifth.
Overall Dairy Feeder Results
Grand Champion: Charli Ankrom
Reserve Grand Champion: Elliona Blacker
3rd Overall: Maverick Adams
4th Overall: Lacey Reed
5th Overall: Colette Woomer
Ankrom’s performance in Class 8 earned her the overall championship, while Blacker’s second-place finish in the same class secured the reserve championship.
Dairy Feeder Results
4-H Dairy Feeder Division I
Class 1
- Hale Underwood – 1st – 400 pounds
- Spencer Huffman – 2nd – 401 pounds
- Payton Massie – 3rd – 418 pounds
- Samuel Oppong – 4th – 401 pounds
- Sarah Huffman – 5th – 413 pounds
Class 2
- Jacob Underwood – 1st – 472 pounds
- Jacob Underwood – 2nd – 458 pounds
- Sarah Markel – 3rd – 460 pounds
- Elie Rodgers – 4th – 438 pounds
Division I Champion: Jacob Underwood – Class 2, 1st place
Division I Reserve Champion: Hale Underwood
Division I Third: Jacob Underwood – Class 2, 2nd place
Division I Fourth: Spencer Huffman
Division I Fifth: Payton Massie
4-H Dairy Feeder Division II
Class 3
- Collette Woomer – 1st – 488 pounds
- Addison Reinschell – 2nd – 508 pounds
- Jenna Snyder – 3rd – 513 pounds
- Hale Underwood – 4th – 484 pounds
- Mia Conley – 5th – 523 pounds
Class 4
- Payton Massie – 1st – 552 pounds
- Lucy Rodgers – 2nd – 532 pounds
- Mia Conley – 3rd – 562 pounds
- Sarah Markel – 4th – 534 pounds
- Ellie Rader – 5th – 555 pounds
Division II Champion: Collette Woomer
Division II Reserve Champion: Payton Massie
Division II Third: Addison Reinschell
Division II Fourth: Lucy Rodgers
Division II Fifth: Mia Conley
4-H Dairy Feeder Division III
Class 5
- Lorelei Wilhelm – 1st – 579 pounds
- Winston Snyder – 2nd – 580 pounds
- Lorelei Wilhelm – 3rd – 574 pounds
- Avery Gould – 4th – 586 pounds
- Ava Grossman – 5th – 581 pounds
Class 6
- Andie Adams – 1st – 609 pounds
- Mason Bandy – 2nd – 605 pounds
- Will Moritz – 3rd – 609 pounds
- Allen Snyder – 4th – 605 pounds
- Wyatt Massie – 5th – 604 pounds
Division III Champion: Lorelei Wilhelm – Class 5, 1st place
Division III Reserve Champion: Andie Adams
Division III Third: Mason Bandy
Division III Fourth: Winston Snyder
Division III Fifth: Lorelei Wilhelm – Class 5, 2nd place
4-H Dairy Feeder Division IV
Class 7
- Maverick Adams – 1st – 650 pounds
- Lacey Reed – 2nd – 625 pounds
- Jaxson Sniffen – 3rd – 620 pounds
- Grant Adams – 4th – 688 pounds
- Jaxson Sniffen – 5th – 624 pounds
4-H Dairy Feeder Division V
Class 8
- Charli Ankrom – 1st – 595 pounds
- Elliona Blacker – 2nd – 501 pounds
- Charli Ankrom – 3rd – 643 pounds
- Ella Vondenhuevel – 4th – 600 pounds
- Jayson Hoewischer – 5th – 602 pounds
The Dairy Steer and Dairy Feeder shows were part of the livestock competition at the 2026 Champaign County Junior Fair, giving local 4-H and FFA exhibitors an opportunity to showcase the animals they have spent months raising, feeding and preparing for competition.
Despite the weather-related delay and power issues, the shows continued with the help of fair officials, exhibitors, electricians and a generator to keep the competition moving inside the arena.
