Sehnert sisters both reserve champions for fair's steers

The two younger Sehnert sisters received reserve champion honors for the steers they showed at the San Diego County Fair, and Delana Sehnert's steer also received reserve grand champion distinction.

Delana Sehnert raised a steer which was the Future Farmers of America reserve champion market beef animal as well as the reserve grand champion. A steer Mallory Sehnert raised was awarded 4-H reserve champion market beef animal status.

"We've been so lucky," Delana Sehnert said.

Delana Sehnert was a Fallbrook High School sophomore during 2017-18. The steer she raised was named Jo Malone, which is a perfume brand. Dunk Cattle Company, which is in the northeast Nebraska town of Wayne, bred the Maine cross who was acquired by the Sehnert family in September 2017 and was on the Sehnerts' property from February 2018 to June 2018. Jo Malone was 16 months old when he was shown at the San Diego County Fair.

When he was placed on the fair scales June 26, Jo Malone weighed 1,235 pounds, which placed him in the mediumweight class. "I didn't really expect that much from him," Sehnert said. "I went into it thinking I might have gotten second or third place."

An unimpressive showing at a spring fair in Arizona gave Sehnert concerns about how Jo Malone would rank at the San Diego County Fair. Sehnert's father, Doug, was more optimistic about Jo Malone.

The San Diego County Fair judges also had a positive view of Jo Malone, who was given first place in the FFA mediumweight class.

"Winning kind of made me understand that he is good," Sehnert said.

The FFA weight class champions and reserve champions then compete for FFA grand champion and FFA reserve champion. The 1,372-pound steer raised by Eli Martineau of Valley Center FFA was the FFA grand champion and Jo Malone was designated as the FFA reserve champion.

The FFA grand champion, the FFA reserve champion, the 4-H or Grange grand champion, and the 4-H or Grange reserve champion then compete for supreme grand champion and reserve grand champion honors. Paige Palcic of Valley Center Country 4-H raised a 1,253-pound steer which was the 4-H grand champion and Mallory Sehnert along with her 1,298-pound steer Bently advanced to the final round through the 4-H reserve champion award.

That placed three family members in the final four – Martineau and the Sehnerts are cousins. "I was pretty excited to be able to do this with my cousin," Delana Sehnert said.

Martineau's steer was named the supreme grand champion with Jo Malone giving Sehnert the reserve grand champion ribbon.

"I did not expect it at all," Delana Sehnert said.

Last year Taryn Sehnert, who graduated from Fallbrook High School in 2016, utilized the FFA alumni year provision to pursue her American FFA degree and also show at the 2017 San Diego County Fair. Her steer received reserve grand champion designation.

Delana Sehnert thus won the same reserve grand champion award for beef her older sister won the previous year. "It just kind of meant a lot to me," she said.

Normally a junior livestock exhibitor can only sell one large animal at the auction, but if the same FFA, 4-H, or Grange member earns FFA or 4-H/Grange grand or reserve champion with more than one animal both animals are offered at the auction block.

This year Southern Contracting Company, which is based in San Marcos, purchased Jo Malone at auction for $10 per pound. Delana Sehnert also raised two pigs which were sold at a barn sale.

Sehnert's two cross-bred hogs were both six months old when they were taken to the county fair. Bianca, who weighed 283 pounds when she was placed on the fair scale, was acquired in January from Small Town Genetics which is in the Stanislaus County town of Denair.

Sehnert obtained Calvin in February from Ottenwalter Show Pigs in Colusa, and Calvin grew to 231 pounds by the time he was entered at the fair. Bianca was the FFA heavyweight reserve champion and Calvin was chosen as the FFA lightweight reserve champion.

Sehnert's parents, Doug and Tricia, teamed with Pathway Consultants to purchase Bianca for $5 a pound. Marie Sandscoe and Candy Schoithie partnered to purchase Calvin for $5 per pound.

Delana Sehnert also competed in beef showmanship and swine showmanship, placing second in the beef showmanship competition with Jo Malone and second in the swine showmanship with Bianca.

"I couldn't do this without my family or friends," Sehnert said. "If it wasn't for them I wouldn't be able to do any of this and be very successful."

Bently was under the care of Mallory Sehnert, who completed seventh grade at Potter Junior High School in June, after the family acquired him in January from Weise Cattle Company in the eastern Nebraska town of Lindsay.

Bently was a Maine cross, as was Mallory Sehnert's other steer; Rocky was acquired in October from Roeber Cattle of Lincoln, Nebraska. Both steers were 15 to 16 months when Sehnert showed them at the San Diego County Fair.

Rocky, who weighed 1,179 points, placed third in the 4-H mediumweight class. Bently took first place in the 4-H heavyweight competition before being selected as the 4-H reserve champion.

"I was really surprised at first," Mallory Sehnert said of receiving 4-H reserve champion honors. "I was also really grateful and thankful to my family and friends."

That gratitude includes Sehnert's two family members who were also in the supreme grand champion and reserve grand champion competition – including Sehnert's sister. "I was very excited to be going up against her in the grand champion drive. I was also really happy for her," Mallory Sehnert said.

The 2018 county fair was Sehnert's fourth as a 4-H member but her first as a 4-H reserve champion.

The Calac family purchased Bently at the auction for $5 a pound. Bello Lei Salon, Pathway Consultants, the Knox family, and the Norman family purchased Rocky for $5 a pound in a barn sale.

Mallory Sehnert also showed a Yorkshire cross pig at the San Diego County Fair. Filbi, who was approximately seven months old at the fair, was acquired by the Sehnert family in February from No Limits Genetics, which is in Madera. She weighed 276 pounds on the fair scales and placed third in the 4-H heavyweight competition. The Knox family obtained Filbi at a barn sale for $5 a pound.

Sehnert and Bently placed second in 4-H beef showmanship. Sehnert and Filbi were third in swine showmanship.