For many rural youth, 4-H projects provide confidence to pursue a future in agriculture.
Canada’s largest event, 4-H on Parade, brings together clubs from across the Calgary region to display their best livestock, life skills projects and compete in judging skills. Held from May 31 to June 2, the event wraps up with the annual market lamb and steer sale where youngsters can receive three times the market value for their livestock projects.
For Sarah Nixdorff of Airdrie, Alta., those good prices and the education she has gained in the six years of 4-H has her considering a career in animal science when she graduates next year. A member of the Irricana Beef Club, she was awarded grand champion steer for a Hereford cross steer that fetched $9.50 per pound. The Calgary Stampede was the buyer.
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The steer was entered in eight different shows this year and won every one. The sale on June 2 meant goodbye to her silver coloured beef project.
“He’s going today. It’s a bit emotional because I spent every day with him but that’s the cattle business,” she said.
The Nixdorff family has had a good couple of years. Her cousins won the grand and reserve champion 4-H steers last year and her father, Rob Nixdorff, won grand champion Hereford bull at the Calgary bull sale. In addition, she found herself competing against her twin sister, Jenna.
“It’s not like just Sarah won, we all won,” said Jenna.
Madison Sibbald of Calgary won the reserve steer. She is a member of the Jumping Pound Beef Club and sold her 1,237 lb. steer for $4.50 per lb. to Highwood Ranch, Calgary.
The grand champion market lamb was entered by 13-year-old Spencer Scott of the Irricana Sheep club. The 114 lb. lamb sold for $9.25 per lb. to John Deere Agro.
The grand reserve champion market lamb went to 13-year-old Brooke Anderson of the Irricana Sheep Club. The 109 lb. lamb sold for a record $12 per lb. to Crossview Farm of Crossfield, Alta. Brooke, who lives at Crossfield also had the reserve champion pen of three lambs. Two sold for $8 per lb. and third fetched $6 per lb.
This was her second year in 4-H and she already plans to invest her sales receipts in more lambs.
Each year, clubs also agree to take turns raising animals to support charity projects of their choosing.
The Bow Valley Multi Club raised and sold a 106 lb. market lamb. It sold to Balzac Meats for $20 per lb., exceeding last year’s price by $5. The proceeds were donated to the War Amps Child Amputee Association.
The Balzac 4-H Beef Club raised the charity steer. It weighed 1,447 lb. and sold for $6 per lb. to Daylight Energy of Calgary. The Canadian Cancer Society was the selected charity.
