Carroll County Extension Service 4-H Members

    What Showing Livestock Means To Me

by Cheyanne Coggins

     As this show season comes to an end, and the time to start over nears, I look back on the past year in my show career. I decided this year to show two steers and two heifers. It has been a lot of work, but a lot of fun as well. Now that I am older, and a junior in high school, I have come to realize that showing means so much more than just going to the show and walking in the ring. It has to do with the work that is done at home, all of the experiences that young people get out of the project, and all of the great people that give support and help along the way.

   Doing Doing your "homework" is an important part of showing livestock. Exhibitors must prepare their livestock for the show ahead of time in order to do a good job at the show. Showing livestock teaches young people, like myself, many life skills that they can use later in life such as responsibility. Personally, showing cattle and lambs has taught me good sportsmanship, responsibility, and hard work. It is always rewarding to win your steer or heifer class and know that you put all of the work into your project to get to this point.

   Also, for me, a big part of showing is the people that have stood behind me on the way up. Mr. Joe and Mrs. Tracie Griffith have helped me so much and have been so good to me. I am thankful for their support and belief in me. Mr. Bill Hodge has become a mentor to me and shared his wisdom about cattle with me. Jason Johns and Greg Walker have helped me with my calves more than anyone. I don't know how I would do it without them. Also, my family, who has given me support, taken me to the shows, and helped me get ready to show. The quality time that we spend together at the show is important to us.

   Next year will be my last year to show cattle in junior shows, but I plan to continue showing in open shows throughout college. I plan to attend Oklahoma State University in the fall of 2003 and obtain a degree in animal science. Showing livestock has influenced my career decision, and I plan to become a large animal surgeon.

   Through the years, showing livestock has changed my life. I have met so many great people and learned many new things. It has definitely made a positive impact on my life, and I hope it can have a positive impact on the lives of many other young people involved in agriculture today.

My First Year In 4-H

by Ben Kissinger

   I am nine years old. This is my first year in 4-H. I live in Douglasville. I have learned things like how to groom a calf and how to use a show stick. I have made some mistakes in showing, and my foot was stepped on (boy that hurts, but now I have steel-toed shoes).

   Raising and showing cattle has taught me how to work around the calves. Practicing for shows, clipping, halter breaking, feeding, washing, blow drying, giving shots, removing stitches - it is a lot of work. Many people in my county help me though, and I appreciate it very much. I hope my friends can depend on me as much as I depend on them and that we can cooperate without any problems.

   I have two steers, both of them are Chianina-Maine Anjou-Augus crosses. Their names are Amigo and Midnight. My heifer, Rosebud, is a purebred Limousin.

   In my first two Showmanship contests I didn't even make the cut, but in my last major show, I placed fourth. In the steer shows Amigo and I have become a team with a lot of practice. He won Grand Champion at the Carroll County Fall Steer Show.

   My Dad has taught me a lot about the Beef Project. I wouldn't be showing if it wasn't for him. My Dad has also taught me how to pick out a good calf. He always says to look for the one with a deep rib, a lot of muscle, and a real thick quarter and top.

     I hope the next few years of showing will be great!

Showing Market Lambs

by Elizabeth Barr

   I am a 6th grader at Carrollton Junior High, and I am beginning my 8th year showing market lambs. I was fortunate to begin showing in the pee wee classes two years before I was able to comete in market classes. I love showing lambs, raising baby lambs, and spending time with my friends, going to the shows, and all the time I spend with my family.

   I had my best season ever in 2001. My sheep were great! I had three lambs, and they all three were ewe lambs. Two of my lambs were raised on our farm, and Sherbert we purchased from a breeder out of Minnesota. Each one of my lambs were special and stood out. Willa was my smallest lamb, and her season was outstanding for a smaller lamb; she won 10 classes and her division at the State Lamb Show. Missy, my middleweight lamb, was really special because she was bred and born at home. She had a great year; she won 14 classes, her class at State, and Grand and Reserve Champion at the Polk County Fair Show.

   Sherbert was my showmanship lamb this year. I set my personal goals high this year. I wanted to win all my showmanship classes and a belt buckle at State. Well, I accomplished my goals by winning 15 showmanship classes out of 16 shows we attended. The biggest accomplishment was when I won my showmanship at State and won a silver belt buckle. I was so excited, and so were my friends and family.

      I had many highlights throughout the 2001 Show season, but there is one that really sticks out in my mind: the Polk County Fair Show. I began by winning my showmanship class; then Willa was second in her class; Missy won her class; and Sherbert won her class. When it was time for the championship round, the judge chose Missy as Grand Champion of the show, and then he turned around and chose Sherbert as Reserve Champion. It was wonderful and exciting - I could not have asked for a better year.

   Without the help of our parents my sister and I would not be able to fulfill our accomplishments. Our time together is priceless.

An Exciting Show Season

by Erin Barr

   The 2001 show season was an exciting year. I had great sheep and felt great about showing. Each year is a progression bringing bigger and better opportunities.

   Showing lambs has been a big part of my life since I was 6 years old. I will be entering the 9th grade in the fall and beginning my 9th year in the showing.

   I have made many life long friends, learned about positive showmanship, responsibility, and most of all how to work hard to accomplish anything.

   I have been very fortunate that my family raises sheep, and I have been able to choose some of my show lambs from our flock. My family works hard to produce good quality, eye appealing, structurally correct show lambs each year. We have a good thing for us in my family because this project isn't just mine and my sisters, it is a family project. As a family we work together, laugh, cry, and spend many hours of love and quality time together. My parents have instilled in my sister Elizabeth and me how important family time is in becoming the persons you are.

   I want to thank my parents and all those who have gotten me to where I am today. Their support and guidance has been wonderful.

   As I stated earlier, I had a great 2001 show season. I won my showmanship class 13 our of 16 shows we attended. Showmanship is judged on the showman's ability to present their lamb to the judge. Showmanship is teamwork between the showman and their lamb; it takes a lot of work at home to be able to work together as one.

   Market classes this past year were great! My lambs won 13 classes, two divisions, and two Reserve Champions. I am looking forward to the 2002 Show season. Baby lambs are being born on our farm, and I am already watching a couple for show lambs this season.

   The advantages to showing lambs are wonderful and rewarding, but the time with my family and friends is priceless.

What I Have Learned From Showing Cattle

by Carrie Waldrop

   I'm eleven years old and homeschool in the 6th grade. This is my third year showing cattle. I'm showing five calves this year, three of which are homegrown.

     I learn something new every time we work my calves or go to a show. Most of what I learn comes from my Dad. My Mom teaches me a lot, and she is learning too. She taught me how to listen instead of talk all the time. I hope I can learn enough to help my brother when he starts showing. My Dad always tells me, "It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play. But, you had better try to win or else."

   I don't think there is anything I'd rather do than show. I love it! And being fortunate enough to do it in a program as strong as the Carroll County Livestock Program makes it that much better. I would like to thank all the supporters of the Carroll County Livestock Program. Without each of you, it would not be possible.

My Dairy Heifer

by Felicia Martin

   Hi! I show a dairy heifer for the Carroll County 4-H. This is my second year showing cattle.

   Through the trees and rocks in my small barn lives a dairy heifer named Dottie. I got her from the dairy farm owned by the Warrens of Roopville. Each day I feed Dottie six pounds of Sassy calf grower from the Daniel Jackson Feed Mill in Ranburne. She also gets as much hay and water as she can eat. I try to walk her as long as possible every day. Dottie is a very nice animal and friend to have. I named her Dottie because she has small dots inside of big dots inside of big dots and looks like she got ink spilled on her.

   I can't wait until next year to show another dairy heifer.

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