It’s always enjoyable to shine our Sure Champ® junior spotlight on young people who are ambitious and, successful and know how to work hard to #preptowin. This time, we turn the spotlight on two young ladies who are all of that and more! Meet Ella Weldon and Maci Zerbach.
Meet Ella Weldon
Ella is the 8-year-old daughter of Zach and Kelly. They live in Piedmont, Oklahoma. Ella is currently in the third grade. She most recently captured the Grand Champion Heifer banner at the Junior Hereford Show during the North American in Louisville. The same heifer won Reserve Champion honors during the junior show at the American Royal.
Meet Maci Zerbach
Hailing from Roseburg, Oregon, Maci is the daughter of Brandon and Amy Zerbach. She is a fourth grader this year. Maci showed her heart out during the recent American Royal in Kansas City. She claimed Grand Champion Market Goat with Rip.
Both Ella and Maci are young in their show careers but have already experienced much success. They have tried showing different species, but are passionate about their animals of choice, and their family is very important to them. Find out what common career goals these young ladies share and how they power their champions.
Let’s Learn More about These Champions!
Tell us about yourself.
EW: My mom and dad both grew up showing. When I was a baby, my dad was helping my cousin get started showing, so I grew up going to shows. I’ve wanted to show for as long as I can remember. My dad got me my first Mini Hereford steer when I was almost 4, and I’ve been showing ever since! I also play volleyball, but showing is for sure my favorite!
MZ: I started showing when I was 4 years old when my older sister, Addyson, got her first lamb for 4-H. This is my sport, and what I live for.
What species/ breeds do you show?
EW: I mainly show Herefords with a few other breeds thrown in there. I tried pigs when I was 5, but they were not my thing!
MZ: Goats and sheep are my main projects, but I have also shown hogs and cattle as well.
Which Sure Champ® and Vita Charge® products do you use?
EW: The Sure Champ® Cattle pellet is mixed in with our feed, and we give all the show heifers Vita Charge® Cattle Drench on Tuesdays and Fridays.
MZ: We love Vita Charge® Liquid Boost®!
What are the biggest benefits you have seen using our products?
EW: Well, I’m not sure I am the best to answer this since I’m only 8. But my dad, Clayton, and Austin tell me our heifers’ guts work better, and our heifers eat and look better.
MZ: Vita Charge Liquid Boost is a great product if you have an animal that needs to stay on or get back on feed.
What is your favorite show, and why?
EW: Hereford Junior Nationals is my favorite show because I get to spend the week with my friends and my team. The show ring is always fancy, and you get to be away from home for a little while. Maine and Chi Junior nationals wereas really fun too!
MZ: Kansas City is my favorite show. I love the vibe of the show, and the competition is fierce.
What is your favorite pre-show ritual?
EW: Before I go in the ring with each of my heifers, in my head I go over what each of them needs from me to look their best.
MZ: I like to pick my favorite buckles for good luck.
What are your plans for the future?
EW: I want to be a vet.
MZ: Someday, when I graduate high school, I would love to go to Oklahoma State, to become a veterinarian.
Who is your biggest role model, and why?
EW: My dad. Because he teaches me how to evaluate cattle, and he runs his own businesses. He shows me how to be a lion and not a sheep.
MZ: Bailee Amstutz is my role model. She’s had an amazing career, and she’s a good person.
What is your favorite/greatest accomplishment?
EW: Hmmm… that is tough. Winning Cattlemen’s Congress with my heifer Kitty will probably always be my favorite.
MZ: My greatest accomplishment is winning Kansas City with my goat Rip.
Did you have any special or major achievements from this summer that stand out?
EW: We won Champion Polled Heifer and Reserve Cow Calf Pair at Hereford Junior Nationals and Champion Chi Composite at Maine and Chi Junior Nationals. I had the best summer ever!
MZ: My other achievement was winning the show Revival in California.
Congratulations to Ella & Maci!
From the Pacific Northwest to the Midwest, we have young exhibitors who know how to #powerchampions using the AO-Biotic® Amaferm® technology found in Sure Champ and Vita Charge.
They use products from BioZyme to keep their animals’ digestive health on-point and to #PreptoWin. We know that 70% of immune response starts in the gut. Therefore, a healthy digestive system leads to a healthy animal.
The BioZyme Difference
BioZyme has always valued creating safe, accurate products that support champions. Our quality processes are some of the most rigorous and effective in our industry
In addition, our products are backed by over 65 years of research. We choose to invest in research so we can be forward-thinking and innovative while staying ahead in our commitment to Care that Comes Full Circle.
We are also committed to sharing our resources to make a difference through advocacy for the sustainability of agriculture along with animal and human well-being.
Looking for a Champion?
Are you looking for ways to power your next champion? Add Sure Champ or Vita Charge powered by Amaferm to their diet.
Purchase products at your local dealer or online.
Interested in seeing us shine a light on more awesome Junior exhibitors? Submit your champions, here.
