Jaleigh Hurst, fifth-grade student at Thomas County Middle School and member of Thomas County 4H, is no stranger to livestock shows.  Jaleigh has been showing steers and heifers for three years, attending between fifteen to twenty shows per year.  Jaleigh has competed in many shows in Georgia and Florida, and as far off as Oklahoma, many of which she finished in the top five and racked up several showmanship awards. 

On January 16, 2021, Jaleigh competed at the Cattleman's Congress Steer Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where she was the only exhibitor representing the Southeastern United States.  Her mother, Chasity Hurst said, “It was a great experience being able to attend a national show.”

Jaleigh’s current steer, “Chunk”, has been shown and won Grand Champion at the Dixie Octoberfest Show in Lake City, Florida, as well as at the Tampa JFCA Winter Showring Showdown in Tampa.  Jaleigh and Chunk earned the title of Reserve Champion at the Big Chief Classic in Fanning Springs, Florida, and won 3rd Overall at the Jackson County Young Farmers Showring Showdown in Perry, Georgia.  

This past weekend, Jaleigh won Grand Champion at The West Central Georgia Steer Show with "Chunk", where she also took home the Showmanship award.

Pictured below in the first image is Jaleigh Hurst with her prize steer, Chunk, at the Cattleman's Congress Steer Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

In the second image, is Jaleigh, second from the left after being awarded her belt buckle for winning Showmanship.