Hueske succeeds with Hope and hard work

It has been quite the run so far this rodeo and livestock show season for Jaycee Hueske and her Charolais Heifer named LJR MS Hope 2822H ET, or for the purposes of this article Hope.

The duo has been taking some big honors with Reserve Champion Charolais at the Fort Worth Stock Show in January and now as Grand Champion Charolais at the San Antonio Livestock Show.

“The feeling is surreal. I’ve been showing for years working towards this goal,” Hueske said.

A sophomore at Huffman Hargrave High School, Hueske is a member of their FFA program, and she also proudly represents her family’s cattle business Walker Farm in Dayton, TX.

Fort Worth is the single longest-running livestock show in Texas and the nation. Her victory marks the second time Hueske has taken Reserve Champion Charolais honors, winning while competing under Dayton 4H in 2020.

With the addition of Grand Champion at the San Antonio Livestock Show, she has earned a $10,000 scholarship for her efforts.

“While winning a banner and buckle is always a thrill, receiving a $10,000 scholarship in San Antonio gave me a feeling like no other. The whole goal of exhibiting livestock is to learn life lessons that prepare me for the future and save for college. This scholarship will be a huge help towards that,” exclaimed Hueske, who hopes to one day attend Texas A&M or Texas Tech.

After a long day of school, Hueske spends her evenings tending to Hope, caring for and training her. She is joined in those efforts getting to and from the barn by her biggest supporter, her mother, Mandy Reeves.

“After school, I wash, dry, and work Hope’s hair to keep her looking her best. This process usually takes a couple of hours. After she’s clean, we practice showmanship, and she gets some exercise. When the hard work is done, she gets fed and let out in her pen for the rest of the night,” said Hueske.

She gives a great deal of credit to her Uncle Wesley, who she refers to as her mentor.

“I have been showing with him since I was 8. He has taught me everything I know. None of this would be possible without him. Without him, I couldn’t do any of this,” said Hueske.

Hueske has spent a great deal of her life traveling and showing around the country, and next up on a busy schedule for both her and Hope is none other than the world’s largest livestock show.

“I still have the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Austin this spring with Hope and will take my other heifer, Jill, to the South Texas State Fair in Beaumont. We will wrap up Hope’s show career with our Texas Junior Charolais Show and the Junior National Charolais Show this summer in Grand Island, Nebraska,” said Hueske.

Not only does she spend time raising Hope and Jill, but she also shows steers at Huffman’s school show.

Hueske points to Psalm 20:4 when summarizing the blessings and opportunities she has received while striving for her goals.

“I just am so thankful for all the opportunities that I have been blessed with; It doesn’t come easy. It takes a lot of hard work. I am thankful that this industry has paved my future and made me the person I am today,” Hueske concluded.