Leesburg Man to Judge Charity Show
Published: Friday, November 28, 2025
Andon Zehring, 19, of Leesburg is excited to judge competitors in the Ringside for Riley beef show during the Hoosier Beef Congress next month in Indianapolis.
The opportunity blends two of the most influential aspects of his life: agriculture and Riley.
"I had cancer when I was 6 months old, went to Riley, and here I am alive still," he said in an interview with the Exchange.
Zehring was diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor at just 7 months old and was rushed by ambulance to Riley Children's Hospital where he underwent an 18-hour brain surgery to remove the tumor. Rounds of chemotherapy, brain radiation and a stem cell transplant followed.
"At 7 months old, we didn't have much hope for him at that time," said his mom, Janel.
Zehring spent the next 12 years traveling between Leesburg and Riley to undergo many more surgeries, intensive occupational and speech therapies, and annual scans. Now, at 19, he is cancer free and chasing his dreams in agriculture.
"I always wanted to be a farmer one day," he said. "But with my disabilities and all that, I really can't and I'm trying to find a job now out in the community –anything in agriculture."
Among those disabilities includes the limited use of his left arm, which creates challenges when working around farm equipment. Zehring is still striving to become a farmer one day, despite those challenges, and is seeking ways to improve his safety around machinery.
His favorite aspects of farming are working with equipment and seeing a good crop come out of the ground.
Zehring began showing beef cattle after watching others do so at the Kosciusko County 4-H Fair. Originally, he showed hogs, but shortly after he added beef cattle showmanship to his repertoire. As he continued, his skills improved, and he even took home the grand champion prize in his 10th year of showing.
Now he will be pulling from his expertise in showmanship and beef judging to evaluate the adult showmen of the Ringside for Riley event. As judge, Zehring will be looking for several different aspects of showmanship and beef quality, including the value of the animal and body condition.
However, what the NorthWood High School graduate is looking forward to most is raising money for Riley Children's Hospital through the beef show.
"I think it's really cool that they started that," Zehring said.
He hopes the show grows and raises more money for the hospital.
Zehring is the son of Brian and Janel, and lives with his parents and younger sister, Presley, on their farmstead in Leesburg.
He will be judging the Ringside for Riley adult showmanship contest on Dec. 5 at the Hoosier Beef Congress in Indianapolis.
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