A Top 10 list of husband-wife activities in Canada would probably not include cattle judging.
For Amanda and Justin Muirhead, however, walking in a show ring and evaluating cattle is their number one recreational activity.
The young couple, who raise 300 purebred red and black Simmental cows and 100 commercial cows on the ranch they run with Justin’s parents, Ward and Lori, near Shellbrook, Sask., have judged cattle for years.
“We both started through the 4-H program,” said Justin.
“I’ve been around purebred cattle all my life and Amanda’s had cattle all her life as well.”
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Amanda, who grew up on a mixed farm near Semans, Sask., before marrying and moving to Shellbrook, said judging has always been part of her life. She studied it through 4-H and won an international judging competition at Canadian Western Agribition in Regina when she was in her teens.
It made sense to continue judging once she became part of the Muirhead family ranch because being around cattle is her recreation of choice.
“When I come home at the end of the day, it’s usually to go outside and do something on the ranch. It’s not necessarily to go out and go curling, or go to a hockey game,” she said.
Justin also said they aren’t interested in traditional Canadian sports. They prefer activities that are outdoors, particularly if it relates to cattle.
“We like branding calves. We go to lots of brandings and we hunt together,” he said.
The Muirheads have moved up from the junior ranks and recently judged at the Manitoba Livestock Expo in Brandon and Agribition.
Amanda said they like going to shows because it gives them an opportunity to evaluate cattle.
“It’s always nice when someone asks you what your opinion is, and that’s what judging is all about.”
Added Justin: “When we’re out there, we take it seriously, (but) it’s just good to be out there.”
Amanda and Justin say they get along inside the show ring. At the Manitoba Livestock Expo, the young couple laughed easily and had a gentle working relationship as they evaluated group after group of cattle.
