Mineral County FFA and 4-H member Megan Webb, this year’s 2008 West Virginia Beef Queen, knows the importance of raising beef cattle and said the focus shouldn’t be on whether they win first place, but rather consistency.
“It’s really important to be proud of an animal. Even if it doesn’t win, still be proud of it,” said Webb. “Every judge has his or her own view and perspective. Consistency is what to look for. You can’t always be number one, but being consistent is just as good.”
In the beef queen competition, hosted by Don and Mada Peterson and Jim Bostic at the West Virginia Cattleman’s Convention in Morgantown in January, Webb shared a speech and answered questions about the beef industry.
“They judged our answers on why beef was the best product,” said Webb. “I told them beef was high in protein and vitamin B and is healthier than white meat.”
Reciting an excerpt from her poem that she read to judges, Webb read “Beef is the best deal, no matter the breed of the beast, Angus, Herford, Charolais, Limousine.”
Representing Mineral County as this year’s West Virginia Beef Queen, Webb said the most recent Beef Queen from the county was Maggie Page, a 22-year-old Keyser resident.
Besides showing cattle at the county level at the fair in Fort Ashby, Webb said she also shows regularly at the state fair, in Harrisonburg, Va., and at the beef expo in Jackson’s Mill, W.Va.
“I have also worked with different people doing fitting of cattle, breaking, feeding and helping them show cattle,” said Webb.
Showing calves for the past six years, Webb said the West Virginia Beef Queen program gives young ladies a great opportunity to represent the youth of their respective areas.
“I encourage any female who has cattle or who enjoys showing cattle to meet with some of their state representatives, the people who represent the industry and the ones who are behind the scenes,” said Webb.
Her main duties include representing the industry, answering people’s questions about beef and cattle as well as visiting various fairs in the state.
Mineral County Technical Center Agriculture teacher Ashby Ruddle, who had Webb as a student, describes her as a “hard worker, very outgoing and very intelligent.”
“I knew she was going to get it. She was the best qualified for it,” said Ruddle, about Webb’s accomplishment as this year’s West Virginia Beef Queen Competition. “She’s very intelligent about the beef industry.”
Webb, who plans to attend Texas A&M this fall majoring in animal science and minoring in agriculture journalism communication, said she encourages all females to participate in the program.
“The beef queen program is trying to find females to represent the industry,” said Webb. “It builds their self esteem and rewards them for their hard work.”
After school, Webb said she hopes to one day open a club calf operation where she will raise show-worthy calves and assist young 4-Hers and FFA students in selecting calves that have the potential to win in exhibitions.
“I want to raise top quality calves and steer,” said Webb.