WEYBURN - The Arcola-Kisbey 4-H Beef Club's members once again highlighted their talent and dedication, emerging victorious at the Regional Competition in Weyburn held from July 2-5 at the Weyburn Fair grounds.
The regional competition, a highlight of the 4-H calendar, is an opportunity for young members to display their skills in a variety of categories, including their livestock. Excelling in several areas, the club demonstrated the depth of their talent within their small 10-member group.
At the Weyburn show, there were 118 steers, 60 heifers and 14 cow/calf pairs.
With the many victories at the Weyburn regionals, it shows the hard work and dedication of the Arcola-Kisbey 4-H members and their leaders, and the support they receive from their families and the community.
It reflects the club’s commitment to the 4-H principles of head to clearer thinking, heart to greater loyalty, hands to larger service, and health to better living for their club, their community, their country and their world.
Club leader Arden Charlton expressed her pride in the members' achievement, saying the club has worked incredibly hard throughout the year, and it is wonderful to see their efforts recognized at the regional level.
The club consists of four families, each taking turns hosting the monthly meeting at their homes. At the club level, the members learn about the meticulous aspect of grooming and handling of their animal, as well as what the judge will look for and the proper way to present the steer or heifer in the show ring.
This year the club showed 10 steers, nine heifers and two cow/calf pairs at the regional show. Although the club does not have young members, they tend to usually show heifers as they are smaller and more manageable.
Judging is a crucial factor and an important skill to learn, and the kids help judge each other, giving their valuable tips to their co-members. Although they will compete against each other in the show ring, they are still a team and give each other as much encouragement as possible.
This is also done at regionals, where they will show the judge how they rate the animal. There are three divisions, and the junior judging was won by Hannah Lees while Nyia Pretty came in third. In the senior class judging, Matthew Charlton came in second.
For showmanship, Kyla Lees took first in the seniors' division and Emma Lees placed third.
Second place was given to Becca Lees in intermediate showmanship, while in junior showmanship, Hannah Lees took third. The club also placed third for their display.
In the grooming division the club took first in junior, second in intermediate and another first in senior. For grooming, they work as a group, and one animal is placed in the chute. They have 15 minutes to groom the animal for the show ring.
Kyla Lees took champion Hereford steer and also overall grand champion steer, while Emma Lees won champion Hereford heifer and overall grand champion female with her hereford yearling heifer.
Andrew Charlton won the champion three-year-old cow/calf pair and Kyla Lees was the overall reserve champion with her yearling hereford heifer.
Senior member Emma Lees was also awarded the Kaitlin Eagles Memorial Personal Development Award. She has been a great leader and mentor in the club.
They closed the show with the champion group of five breeding heifers, shown by Emma Lees, Hannah Lees, Jackson Lees, Becca Lees and Kyla Lees. Judging is based on overall quality as well as uniformity. The club won the champion of five steers the previous day with their Herefords shown by Kyla Lees, Emma Lees, Matthew Charlton, Jade Charlton and Andrew Charlton.
