Six-year-old Hadley Schmidt was dwarfed by her 4-H steer, 973 pound First Chance.
As a result, she needed a little assistance to walk the Maine-Anjou/Angus steer through the show ring at Canadian Western Agribition’s Spring Steer and Heifer Show in Regina.
Fittingly, Marcella Hamilton, a senior in the Carlton Trail 4-H Beef Club, was doing the honours. Her steer was Last Chance.
Hamilton won her class at the show last weekend, while Schmidt, the youngest competitor among more than 100, placed third in the steer class. However, a day earlier, Schmidt and NLC Angel 2U won reserve grand champion honours in the heifer show.
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“She is an angel to me,” Schmidt said of the name she chose for her Maine-Anjou calf.
She won $40 in her class and $250 for the reserve title. Asked what she would buy with her winnings, she replied, “stuff.”
That may include another animal.
Schmidt said she and her father, Kelly, look after her 4-H animals. Kelly said Hadley did well in her first show, although she has had previous experience helping out at Agribition.
The youngster is carrying on a family tradition of participation in livestock shows and Agribition. Grandfather Bryan Hadland is currently second vice-president of Agribition’s board of directors.
Her parents, Kelly and Paula, won the first ever Mainetainer Classic at the 2008 fall show.
The Schmidts operate Nexera Land and Cattle at Drake, Sask.
The grand champion heifer was MVF Rosebud 72U, a Black Angus exhibited by Chance Jackson of Sedley, Sask., a member of the Fillmore-Francis 4-H Club.
Robert Pineo of Weyburn, Sask., showed the grand champion steer, Red, a Maine-Anjou. Reserve honours went to Davis Schmidt of Watrous, Sask., and a Limousin-Hereford-Angus cross named Slick.
Judge Jonathon Thomason of Rush Lake, Sask., said he was impressed with the quality of the animals brought to Regina by members of more than 20 4-H clubs.
“The quality has been unbelievable today,” he said while judging the grand champion steer class. “I can think of half a dozen steers back in the barn that could be out here.”
The 4-H members also competed in judging and showmanship.
Winners of the showmanship classes were: senior, Mathew Hordos of Raymore, Sask.; intermediate, Katie Wright of Melfort, Sask.; and junior, Doyle Watson of Wolseley, Sask.
Jessica Andrew of Regina won the intermediate judging competition and Sadie Anwender of Radville, Sask., won the junior class.
The best kept stall awards went to Valley View 4-H Beef Club for clubs with more than 10 head and Milestone 4-H Beef Club for clubs with 10 head or fewer.
The spirit of the show award was given to Carla Schmitt of the Jordon River 4-H Beef Club.
