QUEEN OF THE CATTLE

Tell us a little about yourself: I was born and raised outside of Monroe. My parents built a house on part of my grandparents’ farm when I was a baby. My aunt built a house just over a few hills on the same farm. We have all helped out with my grandparents’ cattle operation for as long as I can remember. I started helping show my grandparents’ cattle at the Iowa State Fair when I was seven or eight years old. I joined 4-H when I was nine and began showing cattle, static exhibits like photography and baked goods, and even tested out showing pics that first year at the Jasper County Fair. I have loved the fair ever since. I am currently a part of the Jasper County Farmhands led by my aunt, Jessica Barnett, and the Diamond Trail FFA led by Ms. Peterson and Mr. Warrick. I am heading into my senior year at PCM High School and I am currently 17 years old.

My projects this year include a red angus heifer and two market steers. I got all three of them in October and have been working with them daily ever since. I am also helping my little sister with her first 4-H project, a little red angus heifer born in December to my first 4-H show heifer.

What is your favorite part of caring for them? I love the daily time with my cattle and my grandparents. My grandma is the sweetest and greets me every morning so if I don’t have to rush off to one of my other activities, she always offers me some coffee or breakfast in the morning or a soda or supper in the evening. I also like getting to see the personalities in my cattle develop. They make me laugh every day, and I know they enjoy all of the pampering they receive.

How do you prepare them to show? In October, I begin halter breaking them. First, I just sit on a bucket next to them while they eat then I work up to brushing them while they eat and putting a halter on. Then it’s onto tying them while they eat and leading them to water. Then we work our way into walking longer distances and working with a show stick to teach them how to set up. That’s the part that I know how to do at least. Our feed specialists at Two Rivers Coop have always helped me put together their diets and make changes to get them ready for the show ring.

Do you have any funny stories with your animal? One time I was about to walk into a ring and the steer in front of me squirted liquid diarrhea all over the front of me so I was covered from my hair to my shirt to my jeans and to my shoes. I didn’t know what to do next so I just kept on showing like nothing happened. I might not of thought it was funny but my family sure did. What made it ven better was I won Champion Red Angus Steer that day at Iowa Junior Red Angus Field Day

What did it mean to you to be selected as queen? I have known the other beef queens over the years and have always looked up to them. They show dedication to their livestock and their farming families and they always carry themselves with kindness and humility inside and outside of the show ring. I want to be someone to look up to and follow in their example.

What are you looking forward to at the Jasper County Fair? I am looking forward to doing all the things and hanging out with the people I love. I was fortunate to have a group of friends that have been in 4-H with me since I was little and we would do all the contests and activities together. Hanging in the barn and doing chores together, hanging out around my friends’ campers, buying snow cones, building floats and going all out for our crazy parade themes, going to the dance; it’s all fun and there are always stories to be told afterwards.

What would you tell other kids looking to get involved with animals or 4H/FFA? I would tell them to try all the things and take in all the experiences. It can be so much fun if you get involved and find your group of people. Animals are super rewarding but also costly, don’t feel like you need an animal to be involved with 4H/FFA. If you decide to try animals I would suggest a mentor to help ease the process and supply the needed supplies. There are plenty of people that are willing to help get you started!