The Iola Register describes Birk’s first trip to the Junior National Hereford Expo, where he competed in the peewee division against 96 contestants. The July 4-10 event included 629 exhibitors across four age divisions.
Tootsie, born the previous January, has a family connection in her name—her father was named High Roller and her mother was named Candy. The Birk family purchased Tootsie at the Kansas Beef Expo in Hutchinson and began preparing her soon after. In the days leading up to the show, the family washed Tootsie about 10 times over a six-day period, and Birk practiced showmanship several times each week, working on positioning, eye contact, and confidence in the ring.
The championship reflects both animal preparation and the exhibitor skills judges evaluate: correctly setting up the animal, placing the feet properly, and presenting it effectively.