Agriculture
Students come home winners at livestock Expo
Cullman County students won big at this year’s Alabama Junior Livestock Exposition, taking 27 slots in the winner’s circle, more than any other county.
According to Jay Conway, regional extension agent for 4-H, this year’s success is a reflection of the competitive, hard-working natures of students in the county.
“It takes a lot of time and hard work to get a win like this,” he said. “These kids had to work with these animals every single day to attain this victory.”
Just a few of the daily chores for the students include two feedings, walking — also called leading, in which they train the cow to follow them — and regular brushing or cleaning of the animal.
Conway said that thanks to the student’s hard work, four of the state’s top six steers came from Cullman County this year.
In all, there were 17 contestants from Cullman County that won in one or more classes. Brian Heaton, agriculture teacher at Holly Pond, said he cannot remember there ever being that many winners at the state level from Cullman County.
“They did a super job this year,” he said. “The win shows their competitiveness, hard work and how seriously they take it.”
According to Holly Pond senior Lauren Roberts — whose 1,700-pound heifer Genetic Princess took reserve champion among the Maine Anjou breed — while showing cattle is a lot of work, it’s also a lot of fun.
“We meet a lot of new people at the shows, and we also get to spend a lot of extra time with our families,” she said. “Also, you can get scholarship for it.”
Cold Springs senior Sarah Vest said she took a $1,250 scholarship for her cattle showing. Her heifer Maddie took the champion slot in the Simmental breed.
While the Cullman winners placed in a number of different cattle classes, this year’s grand champion and reserve grand champion were Holly Pond students Caleb Elrod and Amie Hill.
Elrod, who is a senior, won grand champion with his steer Sam. Elrod said he plans to attend Wallace State Community College in the fall, eventually going into a pharmacy career.
Hill, who is just in the eighth grade this year, won grand reserve champion with her steer Dice. She said she named it Dice, because in cattle showing, no one ever really knows how it’s going to turn out. Upon graduation, Hill said she also will attend Wallace. A veteran, she was also last year’s grand champion.
Both Hill and Elrod said cattle showing is fun despite the many hours of hard work.
Cullman County is currently No. 1 in the state for agriculture production.
For more information on 4-H call Jay Conway at 737-9386.
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Students come home winners at livestock Expo
Cullman County students won big at this year’s Alabama Junior Livestock Exposition, taking 27 slots in the winner’s circle, more than any other county.
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