English Breeds Take the Ring: 2026 NILE Show Results From Billings

Cattle producers from across the West showed the results of years of genetic selection during the 2026 Northern International Livestock Exposition, held Oct. 9-17 in Billings, Mont. English breed shows filled the week with junior and open competition in six breeds. Exhibitors from Wyoming and neighboring states claimed a large share of the top honors.

Who won the Aberdeen shows?

Marissa Drayfahl of Rathdrum, Idaho, took the Junior Aberdeen Grand Champion Female title with AVR Legendary Nessa, sired by AVR Legendary. Mikell O'Hara of Fort Benton, Mont., showed the Reserve Champion Female, EMO Abby 01P, a daughter of Star Train EMO 0501.

In the steer ring, Rathdrum juniors swept both titles. Oriya Dickinson showed the Grand Champion Steer SRH Kirk, sired by Duff Red Raider, and Bryer Burnside exhibited the Reserve Champion Steer BBG Chunk, sired by ILC Longshot 302L. In the Moderator Division, Emmery O'Hara of Fort Benton won grand champion with the heifer EMO Miss Ang 490P, another Star Train EMO 0501 daughter; Bristol Burnside of Rathdrum took reserve with BBG Lucy, sired by ILC Longshot 302L.

Six Bar Six Ranch of Athol, Idaho, claimed the Open Aberdeen Grand Champion Female, SBX Nova 1N, a Gilbert Excell daughter, and the Open Aberdeen Grand Champion Bull, SBX Popeye 1P, sired by SBX Longmire 1L. Drayfahl's AVR Legendary Nessa added an open reserve female title, and XS Cattle Company of Priest River, Idaho, showed the open reserve bull, AVR Next Level 007, a son of AVR Legendary. Alysha Lee of Hayden, Idaho, topped the open Moderator females with ILC Peachy Keen Jelly Bean 18P, sired by ILC Lightsaber, with Emmery O'Hara's heifer in reserve. Stardust Ranch of Rathdrum took the Open Moderator Grand Champion Bull with SRH Fielder, a TL Julius son, and Vandynken Hull Ranch of Wapato, Wash., claimed reserve with VHR 01P Prince, sired by GMC Arrowsmith G171X. Idaho juniors and ranches dominated the Aberdeen ring from start to finish.

How did the Angus shows finish?

Claire Murnin of Pompey's Pillar, Mont., won the Junior Angus Grand Champion Owned Heifer with PVF Missie 5204, a daughter of Stag Good Times 201 ET; Jasper Clark of Lecompton, Kan., took reserve with RW Time To Dream 503, sired by RW Timeless 304. Lane Toledo of Visalia, Calif., showed the Grand Champion Bred and Owned Heifer, Toledo Sil Sandy 0310 530, sired by PVF Marvel, with Wylee Simenson of Chinook, Mont., in reserve with WW Elbas Time 47N. Bayler Hurlbut of Raymond, S.D., claimed the Junior Grand Champion Bred and Owned Bull with Hurlbuts Yes Sir 501, sired by Ude New Heights 62/87, and Murnin added a reserve bull title with CA Dignity 2610.

In the Angus ROV Show, Tristan Leo of Snelling, Calif., showed the Grand Champion Female, Colburn Annie Lou 5902, sired by BNWZ Executive Decision 2219; Madison Fischer of Hempstead, Texas, took reserve with Lazy JB Blackbird Zena 528. The DLX LLC of Baker City, Ore., exhibited the ROV Grand Champion Bull, DAJS Power Grid 834, and Lazy JB Angus of Montrose, Colo., claimed reserve with KR Defiance. Lainey Wurdeman of Lusk, Wyo., swept the Montana Angus Heifer Futurity with both grand and reserve honors. Montana and Wyoming juniors left the Angus ring with the biggest share of hardware.

What happened in Red Angus and Hereford?

Judges Marcus Arnold of Mount Vernon, Mo., and Ty Bayer of Wausau, Wis., agreed on the top Red Angus female. Chael Roberts of Absarokee, Mont., won both the junior and open grand champion female titles with Red Diamond Ruby 2516, a daughter of Mann Red Box 5C; Kambrie Murray of Lebanon, Ore., took both reserve titles with MHC Maren 2 318N ET. Paislee Reynolds of Butte, Ore., showed the Junior Grand Champion Bull, Pais Hugo 2524, with Owen Tonne of Ephrata, Wash., in reserve. Sagebrush Cattle Company of Willis Point, Texas, claimed the Open Grand Champion Bull with TWG Hawthorn N503, and K Bar Ranch of Central Point, Ore., took reserve with KKBR Vintage P320.

In the Hereford junior show, Chesney Doubet of Ranchester, Wyo., won the Grand Champion Female with CCD Ms Dominate 375N, sired by LBH 656 Standard Lad; Megan Otis of Pray, Mont., took reserve with OR MO Gold Prize Gem. Otis also showed the Junior Grand Champion Bull, OR M Guy of Gold Prize, and Kaylynn Weber of Shoshoni, Wyo., claimed reserve. Cane Creek Company of Glenham, S.D., exhibited the Open Grand Champion Female, Ella Miss Kitty 4014 ET, with Storey Hereford Ranch of Bozeman in reserve. Storey Hereford Ranch won the Open Grand Champion Bull with C SHR 2111 Tohono 4130, and Doubet added the open reserve bull title with CCD Jack in the Box 84. Wyoming exhibitors Doubet and Weber carried the Hereford junior titles home to the Cowboy State.

Who topped Miniature Hereford and Shorthorn?

Triple 3 Cattle of Cheyenne won both Miniature Hereford grand championships: AK Queen Nala 253 ET, sired by SS Sir Gene, and the bull T3C Top Shelf, sired by JWS Johnny Ringo. Cherokee Mini Hereford of Kimball, Neb., took reserve female with HCC Odessa, and Beatrice Jenson of Cheyenne showed the reserve bull, Strait to the Moon.

Kealyn Cahoon of Charlo, Mont., and Jayden Dunn of Saint Francis, Kan., split the purebred Shorthorn female honors. Cahoon's Keal Perfect Pinky The Roo 36P ET won the junior grand title and open reserve; Dunn's CG Diana's Dream 537N took junior reserve and open grand. Gracie Gassner of Eddyville, Ore., won the open grand and junior reserve bull titles with JEM Catalyst 31N. Casper's 4 Spear Ranch showed the Junior Grand Champion Bull, 4 Spear Cash Out 31P, and Sokoloski Shorthorns of Pompeys Pillar, Mont., claimed the open reserve bull.

The Cahoon family then swept the Shorthorn Plus division. Kesten Cahoon won both grand female titles with SMMT Limitless Blue The Roo 510N ET, and Kealyn claimed both grand bull titles with SMMT Endless Fame 406M while adding a junior reserve female title. Landon Weaver of Worland, Wyo., exhibited the junior reserve bull, and Sokoloski Shorthorns took the open reserve bull. The 2026 results will shape breeding and sale decisions across the region as breeders head into the winter season.