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Show Volume I , Issue XII Page 17 The OGDEN VALLEY NEWS September 1999 4-H and a Steer named Flashlight By Katey Heward When I was little I always wanted to show a steer in the Weber County Fair. My older sister took a steer to the fair when I was just a kid. She was able to go out in all kinds of weather to work with her steer. It didn’t matter how cold or blistering hot it was, or if it were snowing or raining–my sister trudged out into it. I was green with envy. Finally, the hay hauling, grain scooping, mud-sucking-off-your-boot, getting-stepped-on experience became all mine. I never realized how hard my sister Amy had worked until I had to do it too. There was always ankle-deep mud to step into. I had to wrestle my feet out of the muck just to take another step. But, day by day, the steers learned to trust me. Katey with her steer Flashlight. When the weather became hot, giving the steers a bath was essential, and the only way to keep them from losing weight. Using the hose and tons of soap, I was able to get the steers miraculously clean. Even though they weighed close to 950 pounds now, they would get cold from their scrubbing. So, I’d pull out a special cattle blow dryer the size of a vacuum, and blow them dry! Unfortunately, raising a show steer for the Fair wasn’t all that easy. My sister and I spent countless, long, tough, tedious, sometimes smelly, hours working with our steers. I got attached to them. We were a team. The fair week starts with the judging and concludes with the sale of the steers. The most exciting part is standing in the ring at the fairground with other kids. Most were smiling at the judge, some setting their steer’s feet straight, and some brushing the dust out of their steer’s oily hair. By this time, the steer weighs close to 1200 pounds. Making them do what the judge wants them to do was next to impossible. We all tried to show our steer at their best. 4-H made me feel like part of a club, where there were people just like me, even though at times we competed against each other. I learned a lot about the responsibility of taking care of a large animal. I am so glad that I showed steers for the Weber County Fair. I’m happy that my parents and grandparents were so supportive, and that my dad was out there trudging through the mud with me. If they weren’t so helpful, I wouldn’t have been able to get a start on my college fund from the showing and sale of my steers. I thank them. 4-H and a Wooly Experience Recipe of the Month By Shanna Francis Twelve-year-old Brandi Melendy, daughter of Pat and Kari Melendy of Liberty, has raised and entered a sheep the road. Walking with the sheep and spending time with it helped with its manageability, and with getting it used Pumpkin Pie Like No Other 1 (15 oz) can of pumpkin 1 (12 oz) can of evaporated milk 3 eggs 4 cups sugar 1 teas. all spice 1 ½ teas. cinnamon 1 ½ teas. ginger 1 package yellow cake mix 4-H members showing their sheep before the judges at the Weber County Fair in the Weber County Fair three to being around people. Judges will different years. She says she has look for the muscle tone of the sheep, learned many things from the the weight, and how long the back of experience; most of all, to be the sheep is. They prefer a longer back. responsible. She says it’s a lot like They also judge on showman-ship, and being a mom. She has also learned how well the sheep is handled in the much about raising a sheep and their ring. personalities. She believes that female Brandi learned another lesson this sheep are easier to handle, and much year; that life can be very less temperamental. They also seem unpredictable. She also learned to, to be friendlier. Sheep are also social “never count your chickens–or sheep creatures, they don’t like to be raised in this case–before they’ve hatched. alone, so the Melendys raise a goat Brandi watched how well her sheep each year too, to Geronimo, keep the sheep a ff e c t i o n a t e l y company, and to called Mo, was keep it eating doing before the r i g h t . fair. Brandi was Responsibility for sure that he the goat was would do very turned over to well when he was Brandi’s sevenjudged. But on year-old sister, the day the who didn’t seem judging was to to mind at all. take place, Brandi had to G e r o n i m o walk her sheep on became bloated. a leash each day, This destroyed usually morning his chances for a and night for winning position. Brandi Melendy at the Fair. fifteen minutes Brandi’s many each time. This months of hard ensured that the sheep’s muscles would work and expectations for a winning be kept well-toned in preparation for sheep were displaced with frustration the fair. Sometimes Brandi walked her and disappointment. I was impressed wooly friend around the house–outside with how well Brandi seemed to take that is, other times it was up and down it all in stride, a mark of maturity that 1 ½ cups of chopped walnuts 3/4 cup melted butter or margarine In mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar and spices. Pour into a greased 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan. Sprinkle the dry cake mix over the top, then drizzle the butter or margarine over the cake mix. Top with walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour, or until center is firm. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping. Note: Share your favorite recipes. Mail, e-mail, or fax them to the OGDEN VALLEY NEWS. she has developed, and to be commended for. The final part of the fair experience is the auction of the livestock. By this time, fortunately, Geronimo was feeling his old self again, and the bloating had disappeared. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Conwell of White River Construction in Liberty, purchased the sheep at a competitive price. Brandi has been saving her proceeds from the sale of the sheep. She said that selling the sheep is the hardest part of the experience. It’s very easy to become attached to the animals after working with them for so long. Brandi would like to thank the Conwells for their support at the fair. For information on participating in the 4-H program, call the Weber County Fair Grounds office. |