Jason Bertschy Memorial High Point Overall Exhibitor Award 1973-1986
The Jason Bertschy Memorial Award honors the life of Jason Bertschy, the son of Doug and Shirley Bertschy of Gravette. Jason was a former AJCA member and avid young cattleman who lost his life in a farm accident in 1986. Jason loved exhibiting his steers and Simmental heifers at county, district, state, regional and national shows. This award is presented annually to a member of the Arkansas Jr. Cattlemen’s Association. This award includes total points for all breed divisions as well as showmanship. No points from the TOP 5 Divisions will be included.
Mt. Pleasant Farms Support Arkansas Jr. Cattlemen’s Association Members
Doug & Shirley Bertschy of Mt. Pleasant Farms near Gravette have made a generous contribution to the Arkansas Jr. Cattlemen’s Association that will sponsor the use of an aluminum stock trailer for one year to the winner of the AJCA OVERALL HIGH POINT EXHIBITOR OF THE YEAR. The AJCA member with the highest number of points in all divisions (all sanctioned shows, all breeds/divisions and showmanship) will receive the award. A memorial plaque that hangs in the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association headquarters will also bear the winner’s name.
The Bertschy’s have sponsored this award for 30 years. The AJCA High Point Overall Exhibitor of the Year Award – Jason Bertschy Memorial was first established in 1987. The award is the highest honor an AJCA member can earn. The Bertschy’s son, Jason, loved exhibiting his Simmental heifers and crossbred steers at his county and district fairs as well as at the Arkansas State Fair, the American Royal and regional and national Simmental junior breed shows. Jason was 13 years old in 1986 when he died in an ATV accident on my family’s farm. To honor the memory of Jason and to support and award other like-minded livestock youth, friends of the Bertschy family established this award.
AJCA members thank Mt. Pleasant Farms for their support and sponsorship. They are also excited about this award. The winner is announced during the AJCA Super Saturday event held in conjunction with the Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show in August.
FORMER WINNERS:
1987 Thomas Buchanan, III
1988 Shane Plyler
1989 Caleb Plyler
1990 Marya Yancey
1991 Lance Wright
1992 Jeremy Clark
1993 Emily Sweat
1994 Amanda Ivey
1995 David Cranor
1996 Kelli McKinnon
1997 Jessica Fisher
1998 Alan Lee
1999 Robby Shofner
2000 Kyle Green
2001 Haley Rieff
2002 Cody Birkner
2003 Matthew Lott
2004 Corey Green
2005 Kevin Morrison
2006 Caitlin Haley
2007 Cody Green
2008 Leigh Ann Bridgers
2009 Cassie Godwin
2010 Katy Tunstill
2011 Chancee Clark
2012 Kylee Sigmon
2013 Sarah Caldwell
2014 Kylee Sigmon
2015 Logan Sigmon
2016 Caleb Caldwell
2017 Sydney Standridge
2018 Josie Wilkins