ESTEVAN — Members of 4-H clubs in the Estevan area are going to be busy over the next few days, thanks to the Estevan Rotary 4-H Regional Show and Sale.
The sale will be July 3, with judging at 9 a.m., awards at 4 p.m. and the sale at 6 p.m. Thirty-eight steers are scheduled to be sold. Nineteen heifers and six cow-calf pairs are also scheduled to be shown.
The Benson, Browning, Crossroads, Outram-Madigan and Steelman clubs are participating. Steelman will have its Achievement Day on July 1 at 9:30 a.m., and the Outram-Madigan Club has their event the following day at 9 a.m. The other achievement days are already finished.
Carolyn Chaytors from the Crossroads 4-H said the cattle look "fabulous".
"These kids have done such a wonderful job, they have worked so hard getting to where they are, and it's definitely going to show in the [show] ring," said Chaytors.
She added there's a lot of excitement in the area for the show. People have been reaching out to the clubs. New businesses have stepped forward with donations. Prizes were expanded for buckles and banners.
"Businesses jump right in to support us, which is wonderful," said Chaytors.
Being part of a 4-H club is a great experience as well, she said, thanks to the opportunities that exist for members in curling and public speaking, among others. They learn to keep record books and members can earn scholarships. People recognize what 4-H does for building skills in the future.
"It's something wonderful to put on a resumé as these kids grow up, because a lot of people recognize what the 4-H program is and the determination it takes to get through the beef program," said Chaytors.
Raising a steer over the course of the year requires a lot of hard work and determination.
"It's not an easy task, and these kids pull through and do wonderful work with the steers in raising them, feeding them, taking care of them in that way, also having to halter-break them, train their hair, spending days and nights working with them. Some of them haul them [their steers] all over to shows and do fabulous there."
For other kids, this is the only show they attend each year, so the Estevan show and sale means a lot to them.
SaskToday will have coverage after the event.
