OLDS, Alta. – For the second year in a row, young people jammed into Olds Cow Palace in Olds for a chance to learn more about the beef business and win big money for top quality steers and heifers.
Kim Lamb, who helped organize the show, saw an even greater benefit.
She said the participants, who came from British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan and were aged five to 21, will use the $25,000 in cash and prizes to invest in themselves and build their herds so they can stay in agriculture.
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“A lot of the kids use it to buy heifers or semen and some is for education,” she said.
“It’s a way to encourage young people to pursue their studies and stay in agriculture by building their herd.”
Entrants were also encouraged to submit artwork and essays.
Parents are encouraged to stay in the stands with gentle reminders that they could touch the halter or tail to help move a stubborn calf along but they could not touch grooming equipment.
A delighted Rae-Lee Pieschel of Balzac, Alta., was the big winner, accepting a $5,000 cheque for her grand champion Hereford steer. A fresh graduate from Olds College with an agriculture business diploma, Pieschel plans to show her winner at shows such as the Calgary Stampede and Olds steer shows.
Judge Harlan Yocham reminded the youngsters that “the winners always like the judge,” so Pieschel had a good feeling parading in the ring.
“I knew from the way he was judging the heifers he was looking for something deep and powerful. My heifer wasn’t that, so I thought he would like my steer and sure enough, he did.”
Aaron Miller of Cremona, Alta., won reserve grand champion steer with a Shorthorn influenced entry. The 16-year-old rodeo enthusiast already has plans for his $3,000 win. An avid team roper, his winnings are going toward building a roping arena.
Class winners for each breed category received $60 plus prizes.
Among the youngest winners was seven-year-old Landon Schutz of Stony Plain, Alta., who won $60 for his first place Maine Anjou steer. This was his first official show, but with help from friend Brittany Papenhuyen, he led his black steer before the judge with confidence. The hardest part for the Grade 1 student was not nerves in front of a big crowd but holding up the steer’s head, whose nose grazed the top of his oversized hat.
Grand champion heifer was the entry of Dakota and Jaclyn Wilson of Bashaw, Alta. They won $4,000 for their Angus.
The reserve champion heifer earned Ty Hertz of Duchess, Alta., $2,000.
