EDMONTON – Farmfair isn’t just about winning prizes; lessons are also learned and friendships forged.
The Barkley and Shuckburgh families of Stettler, Alta., have been tying their cattle side by side at the show barns for years, helping wash each other’s animals and tidy the stalls.
Between the two families, they brought 13 Maine Anjou to the cattle show at this year’s Farmfair in Edmonton.
Spending six days at the show, it’s important to have friends nearby, Brenda Barkley said during a lunch break.
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“After the work is done, you get together to visit. You’re always helping each other out,” said Barkley, who was introduced to the show circuit by her children in 4-H.
Dana Lalley of Langley, B.C., has also joined the family group. She took a week off school to help show the cattle.
“I love it. It’s fun hanging out in groups like this,” said Lalley, who buys her 4-H calf each fall with the help of Kevin Shuckburgh.
Shuckburgh has shown cattle at Farmfair for 22 years, but his family has been showing up for 30 years. Canadian Maine Anjou breeders have come to Farmfair this year from across the country as part of the celebrations marking the breed’s 35th anniversary in Canada and Shuckburgh is hoping to do well.
“It would be nice,” he said.
Barkley’s attitude about winning has changed since her four children first began showing cattle in the local 4-H club.
Then she was a nervous wreck watching her children compete in cattle events, but now she’s more relaxed and if the children are having fun and do their best, she’s happy.
Even if they don’t bring many ribbons home from the show, the children learn valuable skills from the event, she said. Before the children get the OK to attend Farmfair, their school marks have to be within a range set by Barkley.
“It’s been a real incentive for them to work hard all year and to make sure they have the opportunity to come this week,” she said.
The children are also responsible for discussing with their teacher what homework they must take to Farmfair.
“It’s up to them to do their homework,” said Barkley, whose children range from Grade 7 to first year college. Also along on the trip is a Quebec exchange student.
When Joannie Lapointe of Thetford Mines arrived at the Barkley farm in September, she’d never been near cattle before. By show day the family decided she was confident enough to show a calf.
“She’s done very well,” said Barkley.
Coming to the fair also helps the children learn to socialize in an atmosphere of mainly adults, which has taught them valuable marketing skills for selling their animals.
Each spring when the calves are born, the children discuss the merits of each calf and whether it may be a good prospect for a show animal, she said.
Each morning when the alarm clock goes off in Barkley’s brother’s home, where they are staying while in Edmonton, the children get out of bed with minimal grumbling because they know there’s work to do.
“They know everyone pitches in and helps with the animals.”
