Over 200 young beef enthusiasts were competing at the Claresholm Agriplex on Wednesday for the 24th Annual Chinook Junior Stock Show.
Show Organizer Cecilie Fleming says showing cattle equips youth with important life skills.
"They learn perseverance, defeat and they learn to be successful," Fleming said. "We also do some other programs like showmanship, they can do some judging, so it's all encompassing and they learn to thank their sponsors which is really a lost art."
Fleming says when the local group of families got together to organize the very first show, they only had 29 kids competing.
The stock show has now grown to one the of largest one day shows in Canada, and she says they're seeing a second generation of the show start to come through the ring.
10-year-old Sadee Howell from Penhold has been showing cattle since she was four years old and says it's takes a lot of hard work at home to be successful when you take your livestock to town.
Howell had her Black Angus cross steer named Leonard on display in the show ring with 18 other junior competitors vying for top spot in the Junior Showmanship Championship class.
"I think it's just talking to your animal, practicing a lot at home, getting them used to your voice and being calm yourself," Howell said when describing her keys to success to win Junior Champion Showmanship.
Howell says she likes showing cattle because the livestock become her best friends.
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Thu, Apr 18, 4:30 PM
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