CARSTAIRS - The West Carstairs 4-H Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a special celebration on May 23 at the Carstairs Memorial Arena.
Keith Evans chaired the celebration organizing committee and he said the event went very well. He said that a great deal of planning took place before the event.
"We first asked around to see if there would be enough interest in participating, and we were happy to report that many people loved the idea of celebrating our 75th with a Steer Classic rerun," said Evans. "Plans progressed and invites were sent via word of mouth, email and a Facebook page."
Evans said they ended up with 31 alumni members who registered and weighed their steers on Oct. 30 along with current members of the club.
"The registered alumni members ranged in age from 17 to 64," he said. "We enjoyed a huge potluck dinner and a lot of laughs with everyone, maybe with a few side bets made. The alumni worked hard with their steers through the winter and this time were able to ësluff it,' because they did not have to public speak, judge or do a monthly record book. They just had to feed and work with their steers."
Evans said that the anniversary celebration itself was a great day and was run alongside the Carstairs and District 4-H Show and Sale.
"We started with a wonderful pancake breakfast sponsored and cooked by the Carstairs Chamber of Commerce," he said. "We had 30 steers arrive and weigh in and get settled into their stalls. The participating alumni received amazing swag bags that were donated by Terry and Delores Hehr. The bags were filled with souvenir buckles of the 75th and their steer's breed award - some of those were very old awards."
Evans said the alumni show started with a Pen of 3 Class, which was won by the Sheehan family. After that, the 30 steers were split into four different weight classes.
"The top two from each of those classes then went on to the championship class along with two members advancing to a showmanship class," he said.
In the end it was Ronda Mader winning the Grand Champion Steer crown. She received a beautiful buckle donated by the Sheehan family. In the Grand Champion Showman class it was Robert Klys winning. He received a buckle donated by Bert and Pat Pringle. The Reserve Showman buckle was awarded to Chase Sheehan. Finally, Jay Good was awarded for having the steer with the highest rate of gain over the 206 days.
"Throughout the last 75 years our club has had 443 members and 44 leaders participate," said Evans. "We are very excited to see that over those 75 years, and hopefully into the future, that the heritage and tradition is continued through our children and their children to not only learn from 4-H but to live the four Hs - using their Head, Heart, Health and Hands."
"We enjoyed a huge potluck dinner and a lot of laughs with everyone, maybe with a few side bets made."Keith Evans
