It’s Show Time: Kids from Across Fayette Ready to Display Their Hard Work as County Livestock Show Begins Friday
It’s the animals that are being judged this weekend at the Fayette County Junior Livestock Show. But the real stars of the show
But the real stars of the show are the kids.
“I love the saying, ‘What end of the halter are we concerned about?’ I can promise you it doesn’t have four legs. The animal is just a teaching tool for our youth,” said Kayla Kaspar, who in her roles as County Extension Agent and 4-H Youth Development coordinator sees first hand the things local young folks are learning through the hard work they put into getting ready for the show.
“The Fayette County Jr. Livestock Show’s purpose is for 4-H and FFA members to exhibit their livestock projects as well as ag mechanics and cakes. Many members are caring for their projects for eight or more months,” said Kaspar. “ Through these projects youth are learning life skills such responsibility, teamwork, and character education.”
Fayetteville High School junior Logan Fritsch has been showing animals since he was eight years old.
“Agriculture is very important to me, it’s what I know, it’s how I’ve grown up,” Fritsch said.
This week he’s showing steers and pigs for the county show, and also showing pigs at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and heifers for the commercial show in August.
“As an agent and parent, what I love most about these projects is it is a family project. It takes the entire family to make it work,” Kaspar said.
“I definitely consider this a family project-we spend a lot of time at the barn - my mom, dad, and (brother) Lawson,” Fritsch said. “On average we are at the barn at least 8-9 hours a week. Steers and pigs are fed morning and night. This year we had five pigs and four steers. Pig pens are scraped and cleaned every other day, their bedding is shavings that also need to be replenished when they get dirty. On warm days they get a bath in the wash rack, we walk and weigh them - my brother and I also spend a lot of time getting them ‘show broke’ in the beginning.
“The steer pens are cleaned daily - we faithfully wash them, blow them out, and weigh them - they are tied at least five days a week that we rub on them - we practice leading them and setting them up.”
It would be a busy week for any student, but Fritsch is also a star athlete for the Fayetteville Lions.
“It does get very hard and tiring at times to try and juggle everything - we have morning workouts at least 2-3 times a week,” Fritsch said. “In the fall I played basketball and now I’m in baseball and track. My dad’s in the cattle business so when he’s short-handed on the weekends, I’ll help process cattle.”
Is it all worth it?
“I’ve learned many things from my experience working with my animal projects over the years. I have definitely learned to multitask, to be responsible, have a good work ethic and above all to win or place high with your project is the most rewarding – hard work always pays off,” Fritsch said.
The story of hard work and juggling responsibilities is the same for La Grange High School junior Ellee Sodolak.
She’s going into her ninth year of showing livestock. She’s showing pigs at the Fayette County Junior Livestock Show and heifers at the Fayette County Fair..
“I have always loved showing animals because of my dad, he taught me everything I know about them,” Sodolak said.
Sodolak is getting ready for the show while also being a star cross country and track runner for the Lady Leps and a standout soccer player for the varsity.
“Balancing my honors classes, sports and animals can be a lot of work, but it is definitely worth it in the end,” Sodolak said. “I have learned about time management as well as the importance of meeting deadlines and maintaining my responsibilities.”
She has to feed the pigs twice a day, walk them several times a week, clean the pens and maintain their skin care.
“I usually tend to do my pigs after I get home from a sports practice or game so I’m used to working in the dark,” Sodolak said.
Kaspar said Fritsch and Sodolak’s stories are not unique. So many kids are going to be putting their hard work in display in the show ring this weekend at The Fayette County Fairgrounds.
“At the end of the project, the goal is for youth to make a little money for their college education through the sale of their project,” Kaspar said. “They spend countless hours caring for their projects as well as juggling sports, academics, and other activities. Why not reward these kids for their hard work? I encourage you to come out and support the Fayette County 4-H and FFA kids the weekend of March 25-26 at the Fayette County Jr. Livestock Show.”
2022 Fayette Co. Jr. Livestock Show
At The Fayette County Fairgrounds in La Grange
Friday, March 25
Opening – 8:00 AM
Broiler Show – 8:30 AM
Lamb Show – 10:00 AM
Goat Show to follow
Steer Show – 1:00 PM
Heifer Show to follow
Rabbit Show – 4:00 PM
Ag Mechanics Show – 4:30 PM
Swine Show – 6:30 PM
Saturday, March 26
12:30 PM – Buyer Registration Opens
1:30 PM – Beef Heifer Review Ag Mechanics Review
2:00 PM -- Sale