Members of the Sundre and Bergen 4-H Multi clubs had the opportunity last week to showcase a year’s worth of effort they had invested in their projects.
The 62nd annual Sundre and Bergen 4-H Show and Sale was held on Monday, May 27 at the Sundre Arena, which for the day was set up to accommodate numerous pens and a show ring for judging livestock.
“It was another good year,” said Jim Bowhay, a volunteer and past president of the show and sale committee whose grandson Colt Neeham is a member of the Bergen 4-H Multi Club.
The Sundre Arena was a busy place on Monday, May 27 during the 62nd annual Sundre and Bergen 4-H Show and Sale. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
Considering the economy that has yet to recover to pre-oil crash levels, Bowhay said the turnout was comparable to past years and that sponsors as well as buyers did really well supporting the event.
In all, he said 31 market steers were sold at an average price of $2.83 a pound, while 14 market lambs were sold at an average of $3.94 a pound.
Before the sale, judges rate the animals that the 4-H club members have spent the past year raising, and offer advice to help the youth improve, he said.
The winner of this year’s Interclub Grand Champion Steer was Jorja Packer, a member of the Sundre 4-H Multi Club. Winning the Interclub Reserve Grand Champion Steer was Caleb Richardson, with the Bergen 4-H Multi Club.
Plenty of trophies and awards were up for grabs at the Sundre Arena on Monday, May 27 during the 62nd Sundre and Bergen 4-H Show and Sale. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
The winner of this year’s Interclub Grand Champion Market Lamb was Carisa Richardson, with the Bergen club, while Silvan Staub, also with the Bergen club, won Interclub Reserve Grand Champion Lamb.
As with anything else in life, members get out of 4-H what they put into it, and there are always those who put in the extra effort to reap the rewards, said Bowhay.
“You got to put a little sweat into it if you want to get the reward,” he said.
“There’s no better program out there that I know of for the youth,” he said, adding that sentiment was echoed by the judges and speakers, who mentioned the benefit of being able to include such a valuable experience on a resume.
Kenley Sammons, a member of the Bergen 4-H Multi Club, grooms her lamb. Simon Ducatel/MVP Staff
Cody Jackson, leader of the Sundre 4-H Multi Club beef project and president of the Sundre and District Ag Society, hailed the show and sale as “pretty much an overwhelming success.”
The event requires a massive cooperative effort among the show and sale committee, the Town of Sundre, the ag society, and both of the 4-H clubs, said Jackson, adding all of the shavings had been swept up by the following day to get the arena properly cleaned up.
The show and sale is the big year-end for the kids, who work hard raising their animals, he said, adding some of them develop an affinity for their projects.
“Some of them get upset when they have to sell their animals, but that’s the way it is in farming,” he said.
Bergen 4-H Multi Club member Aspen Luzi leads her project for judging during the show and sale.
Mayor Terry Leslie and Mountain View County councillor Angela Aalbers were among the guest speakers who opened the show. They praised the program’s importance as well as the lifelong impact on the youth, who in future job hunts as adults become more likely to rise to the top of a pile of resumes on a potential employer’s desk, he said.
Kelly Richardson, leader of the Bergen 4-H Multi Club beef and sheep projects, said the show and sale was very successful, and she praised not only the commitment and effort all of the members put in, but also the sponsors and buyers who came out to support the youth.
“It takes them all year to get to achievement day,” she said.
“Seeing them succeed, there’s no better feeling.”
Richardson said she loves the 4-H program and being able to help the kids.
“It’s pretty much my life,” she said.
The club teaches them about responsibility, community service, friendship, working alongside others and developing a work ethic, she said.
“Those kids know how to work,” she said.
“It’s the best program out there, as far as I’m concerned.”
Someone’s got to do it! Bergen 4-H Multi Club members Cole Evans and Ashley Schrauwen weren’t shy about shovelling.
