Rankin County youth excel at January Livestock Show

By Guest Columnist Kessie Key

    At the January 15 Rankin County Livestock Association Show at the Livestock Pavilion in Brandon, many Pelahatchie students of all ages displayed their expertise in the show ring. Here is a summary of the students’ awards and future shows.

    Bailey Joy Key, a ten-year-old fourth grader at Pelahatchie Elementary School, won her division of Showmanship alongside her Red Angus heifer, Layla. Key and Layla are trained by Gabbi Walters, owner of Hilltop Cattle in Pelahatchie. Key began competing in December 2021 and has found a true passion for the cattle industry as well as all animals. She is currently a member of the Rankin County 4H and the Red Angus Association. The countdown is on for when she can join the Junior FFA at Pelahatchie under the direction of Bob Robinson. She is the daughter of Kessie and Austin Key of Pelahatchie. Key will be showing in Showmanship and the Beef show during the district show as well as Dixie Nationals. 

    Maddie Grace Walters is a junior at Pelahatchie High School (PHS) and an established member of the PHS FFA under the direction of Bob Robinson. Walters is no stranger to the show ring, as she has won multiple banners and titles over the past years. At the Rankin County Livestock Show, Walters and the Red Angus cattle of Hilltop Cattle brought home numerous banners. Elvira, a late fall calf, won Reserve Champion Breeding Heifer and Grand Champion Red Angus Heifer. Troubador won Supreme Champion Bull and Grand Champion Red Angus Bull. Alana won Reserve Champion Red Angus Heifer. She will in action at the district show and Dixie Nationals. Walters is the daughter of Gabe and Lacie Walters. 

    Mary Taylor Nutt, a 13-year-old seventh grader at Pelahatchie HS known to most as MT, competed for the first time with her commercial heifer, Buttercup. Together they won Reserve Championship Commercial Heifer at the Rankin County Show. Nutt is a member of the PHS FFA under the direction of Bob Robinson. She looks forward to representing Rankin County at the district show and then on to Dixie Nationals. Nutt is the daughter of Nikki and Tip Nutt.

    Addyson Nutt, Mary Taylor’s sister, is an eight-year-old who, along with her heifer, Milkshake, took home second place in Showmanship in her division.  New to the show ring, Nutt excels with her confidence and control of Milkshake. This duo will also be representing Rankin County at the district show and Dixie Nationals in February. 

    Camden Patton is a senior at Pelahatchie HS and an established member of the PHS FFA under the direction of Bob Robinson. Patton has been showing for nine years. Friday night, January 14, during the Celebrity Showmanship Dinner, Patton was awarded the Junior Board Scholarship. During the Rankin County Livestock Show, she placed first in Showmanship for her division. Her cattle racked up on the banners as well with an Overall Heifer, Overall Steer, Champion Angus, Champion Percentage Simmental, and Champion AOB. 

    Patton has had the pleasure over the past couple of years to bring her little brother, Dawson Edwards, into the ring with her. He is learning from one of the best and it shows. Edwards placed first in his Showmanship division and his cattle brought home a banner for Reserve Angus and Reserve Percentage Simmental. Edwards is an 11-year-old fifth grade student at Pelahatchie Elementary. They are the son and daughter of Misty and Brian Edwards. They will represent Rankin County at the district show and Dixie Nationals. 

    Wylde McCrory is the six-year-old first grade son of Kyle and Kaila McCrory. McCrory has been following the guidance of Camden Patton and Dawson Edwards in the show ring. As a younger addition to the cattle world, he is eager to learn and not afraid to get the job done inside the ring. McCrory won his class in Showmanship during the Rankin County Livestock Show and plans to represent Rankin County at any PeeWee Open Shows until he can step into the big ring in two years.