Ashley Good Memorial Fund celebrates 20th year
By Joan Janzen
This year marks the 20th year of the Ashley Good Memorial Fund Youth Show at the Beef Expo in Oyen. Ashley’s parents, Don and Mindy Good, have been the driving force, as well as the major contributors behind this memorial, which is awarded to first and second place steers for conformation. Mindy and Don provide the Ashley Good Memorial Steer Show’s Grand Champion with $1,000.00 and the Reserve Champion receives $750.00.
“The Steer Show prize money went from $500.00 and $250.00, to $750.00 and $500.00, and now is $1,000.00 and $750.00,” Mindy said. The fund was started in 2001 when Ashley Good passed away, at the age of 26, as the result of a motor vehicle accident. Ashley had owned land and had his own herd.
When talking about the life, the love, or the legacy of Ashley, all trails lead back to cattle, which is fitting for someone who was born a natural cattleman. So as the steers entered the ring on Saturday, February 19th, 2022, many remembered Ashley and the continuing legacy of loving animals that produce quality beef.
“We have sponsored the youth steer show for 20 years in Ashley’s memory,” Mindy Good explained. This year they had friends and family who donated to the fund, rather than to the show.
“The Big Country Agricultural Society (BCAS) looks after the fund and we decide what to purchase for the building in Ashley’s memory,” Mindy explained. More than twenty years later, the Beef Expo has taken off, and is sold out with a waiting list.
“We have three granddaughters participating and we love to watch them,” Mindy said. Watching youngsters participate is obviously rewarding, and inspires Mindy and Don to keep the legacy alive. They start selling tickets, distributing posters and obtaining sponsorship for prizes well in advance, beginning in November. Don goes to businesses to get sponsorship for the show for jackets, prizes, and silent auction and live auction items.
“Steer competitions are huge all over North America!” Mindy said. “We started to get competitors to come and the show has been getting bigger and better.”
PHOTOS BY CROWBAIT CREATIVE
The Ashley Good Memorial Steer Show at the Crossroads Beef Expo on February 19.
Grand Champion - Keagan Jacobson. Sponsored by the Ashley Good Memorial.
Reserve Champion - Levi Martin. Sponsored by the Ashley Good Memorial. Third Place - Danica Woods. Sponsored by B.E. Oilfield Services.
Ashley Good
