The last fair and one last shot (picture added)

[vc]

Well the boy I have been helping with his calves the past few years is winding down his last year of showing, he ended up the FFA champion over all, and goes to the Champion Drive, based off of the four calves headed into tonight he will be at least reserve if not champion. Both the champion 4H and FFA calves are good solid calves, the FFA calf weighs 1275, 4H 1365. they are both a little different in their design with the FFA calf being a tick sounder, but both calves move well, that is what brought them both to the top.

Both calves are from the same breeder, as well as the champion FFA Market Heifer, this will be the second year in a row that the Chapion and Reserve were from their place. They had about 12 calves at the show and there were around 70 head competing, They do a good job of helping the kids out and will be there tonight support the to boys tonight, not a big deal until you consider they will drive 330 miles one way today to do that.

Both boys are from the same small town and even though there is a big age gap 18 and 12 they help each other out since one is FFA the other is 4H it is nothing to see one helping the other work on his calf prior to entering the ring. To me this is what friendly competition should be like.

Congratulations goes out to Eli and Zack

 

[vc]

I just received a text from the boy, he won Sr. FFA Market Beef Showmanship. He has been showing for 3 years, his first year he made the cut but stood last in the final drive, last year he finished 2nd. Good kid who wants to continue on in Agriculture, he is still trying to figure out the path he wants to take.

 

[vc]

Well if your going to go out go with a bang, he ended up grand champion, I really thought he was going to end up reserve but the calf really looked good this evening. I will post pictures tomorrow.

 

[jbzdad]

congratulations on a great fair... all that work pays off sometimes... would love to see the pics

 

[vc]

Here is a picture of both boys with their steers, the solo picture is not very good but it is what I have.
The steer is a Monopoly / Predator, the last photo is of him as a calf from their sale page.

 

[Tallcool1]

Fantastic job done by those boys. 

We looked at a Predator steer out of a Monopoly cow last fall.  Same blood lines but reversed the sire and dam.  He looked like a carbon copy of your steer's sale picture.  I thought that was pretty cool.

Congrats!

 

[cowpoke]

VC sounds like your guidance and help paid off.I assume you are from California and the attire with the white pants and FFA jackets made me remember the days
when I showed dairy cattle with white pants waking backwards and using your hand  to set them up by pressing on their shoulder.The lessons learned about life are priceless if livestock exhibition if done for the right reasons.People like yourself and the breeders that supported the kids especially having that many quality calves at one fair 330 miles away speaks for itself.We need more people doing it for the right reasons instead of winning at all costs regardless of rules or how much it costs.

 

[vc]

Cowpoke, yes we're in California, I think my wife's happiest day was when the 4H went to jeans optional for the kids. Easier to keep clean and they would wear then after the fair. The boy I've helped out did not get involved until he was in high school, I told him as long as he put in the work I'd help him,. He proved to all the " you have to have a cool box to win" people that is not the case. Our fair is a true blow and go, no product what so ever so they really need to put in the work at home.
Anyone out there need a big strong, willing to learn, young man to work for them. He wants to get into the cattle industry, it would be good for him to learn in the real world with real world cattle before he decides on a college and and carrier path.

 

[FlatlandCattle09]

I feel helping today's youth with learning respect and giving them a reason to wake up in the morning and a purpose to their day should be in every stock man/woman's mind. I brought my cousin out to my little farm and she keeps care of the calves and shows them. She loves agriculture but she lives in town. I'm glad there are people out there that do help youth participate in this amazing field.