July 29, 2009
Alta 4-H finds success over Teton Pass.
I pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living…So begins the 4-H pledge that the Alta 4-H kids repeat at each of their meetings. They could easily add, “I pledge my June and July to caring for my animals, my dad’s truck and trailer for multiple trips over Teton Pass, my mom’s sewing machine to broken needles and I pledge to spend all of fair week at the fairgrounds living out of a tent, camper or car.”
Hmm…or maybe there should be a parent pledge.
For many Alta families, 4-H is serious business. Yes, it is the kids who sign up but it takes all hands on deck from the whole family to make it successful. Many of the meetings are held during the school year but the real work begins in the spring when the kids buy their animals.
Work becomes more intense as fair time looms in the summer months. There are weigh-ins to assure that the animal is fat but not too fat, health inspections, ultra-sounds, shearing, training the animal to walk and stand for the judges so as to show off their loins and back fat to the best advantage. You know it is tricky training a pig to walk politely and stand in the show ring without peeing on your boots or fighting with another pig.
All this hard work paid off last week as the Alta 4-H found success at the Teton County, Wyoming Fair held in Jackson. The Alta youth proudly brought home 18 Grand Champion ribbons and 12 Reserve Champion ribbons along with many blues and reds. All the Grands, Reserves and Blue ribbon winners are eligible to compete at Wyoming State Fair in Douglas August 8 through the 15.
The morning of the show there was a whole lot of washing, polishing, primping, clipping, braiding, fluffing and hair spraying going on and that is just on the animals. The kids likewise have been groomed in their western best and are ready to walk into the show ring.
Their faces exhibit concentration as they mentally prepare. They must remember to look attentive to the judge, answer any questions the judge might ask, keep the animal between them and the judge, control the animal, keep him “set up” and not forget to smile!
Our own Erin Heffron, Alta resident and a 2006 graduate of Teton High School, reigned as Rodeo Queen handing out the ribbons and belt buckles to fellow 4-H participants. Erin, a junior at the University of Wyoming, will likewise compete for a second year in a row, at Wyoming State Fair for the Rodeo Queen title.
By the sundown of “show day” all involved are exhausted but by the next morning are ready to enter the ring again as their animals are auctioned off. Leland Christensen, an able auctioneer, coaxes, cajoles and sometimes even chides as he gets top dollar for these youngsters. And I do mean top dollar, the animals bring three to four times market price and that translates into some good money for all the effort put in.
By the end of fair week, most of the kids are happy to see their animals sold and off to slaughter, the parents are ready to sleep at home in their own beds and come next year, they will all be ready to pledge again.
Results were unavailable as of press time Wednesday. Look in next week’s Valley Citizen for complete results from the Teton County, Wyo., 4-H competition.
