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After aging out of the junior circuit, Jess turned his passion into purpose—selling calves with his dad Greg Recknor and fitting for others across the Midwest. A part-time stint with Sullivan Farms turned full-time, and his professional path was set. Jess later attended DMACC while working part-time at Cyclone Trace Cattle Company. That role eventually grew into managing their show and sale cattle program full-time until CYT’s dispersal in 2016. CYT brought some unforgettable moments. Among them was Jordan Crall’s heifer, CYT Max Rosa 9111, who earned Supreme Shorthorn honors at NAILE in both 2009 and 2010. That same year, CYT claimed Champion and Reserve Champion Female in the 2010 Open Shorthorn Show—highlighting Jess’s ability to bring out the best in elite cattle. After CYT, Jess returned to Sullivan Farms to be one of the managers of Sara Sullivan’s show string until her successful conclusion in 2025. Throughout, Jess has never lost his desire to learn—from Deb Vorthman’s fine-tuning of toplines to Bob Bruns’ steer fitting/ FROM THE BACKDROP TO THE SPOTLIGHT: JESS RECKNOR’S JOURNEY THROUGH THE SHOW RING AND BEYOND
or Jess Recknor, success in the show cattle world wasn’t a fluke— it was forged over time, built on curiosity, grit, and a relentless drive to improve. Raised in Hartland, Minnesota, alongside his sister Katie, Jess’ early years revolved around the show barn. While Katie earned recognition with standout wins—including a white Shorthorn steer that claimed 14 banners in 2000, culminating with Champion at
the Minnesota State Fair—Jess was equally committed behind the scenes, often clipping and prepping her steers with meticulous care. “I think I fit that stuffed steer from Bev more times than my mom could count,” Jess laughs. That early obsession with daily care and preparation set the tone for a lifetime of show cattle excellence. He spent countless hours watching the original Kirk Stierwalt fitting videos with Oster sheepheads and silver Andis clippers on repeat, testing feeds, and always looking for the next edge. His own show career peaked when he won Aksarben in 2002, fittingly at the final show in the original Omaha facility.
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