This year’s 4-H on Parade in Calgary became a special memory for two first-time grand champion winners.
It was Adam Nixdorff’s first year in 4-H so winning the grand champion market lamb was a big accomplishment for the nine year old from the multi club in Irricana, Alta.
The day got even better when Sunterra Meats of Innisfail, Alta., bought his 123 pound lamb at the May 30 sale for $6.75 per lb.
Nixdorff’s family is in the cattle business in Kathyrn, Alta., but he was too young for the beef show so opted for a husky Suffolk wether. He also owns a ewe lamb that placed second in its weight class.
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“I’m keeping her to build up my flock,” he said after the sale.
The youngster isn’t sure what he might do with his first big paycheque.
“I don’t know if I have a bank account,” he said.
He does know he has a feed bill and shearing costs to cover before he can enjoy the cash.
For 17-year-old Kristin Miller, winning the grand champion steer was the culmination of a seven-year career with the beef club in Balzac, Alta. She will be leaving the club this year to attend Red Deer College.
Her Limousin-Simmental cross steer was home raised and gained 3.44 lb. per day. Her family has a commercial herd near Calgary.
“I picked him as a baby calf and he turned into a good one,” Miller said.
More than 200 steers were shown and the win was sweet because her younger brother stood first in his class but the judge liked Miller’s wide-hipped entry better.
“I knew he was good,” Miller said.
“I didn’t think he was going to be picked. I thought he might be too heavy.”
Miller was nervous about how she might fare in the ring. A year of BSE and closed borders has left the beef industry staggering. Buyers at last year’s sale were determined to bid up the stock to ensure that the 4-Hers received fair prices for their work.
Bids were brisk on the 200 cattle. Miller’s steer sold to the Calgary Exhibition and Stampede for $4.25 a lb.
It was then donated back to the sale with the proceeds designated to the Calgary Stampede Foundation. Foothills Custom Meats made the final bid of $2.25 per lb. The overall sale averaged $1.50 a lb.
Later in the sale a steer and a market lamb raised for charity drew enthusiastic bidding.
The proceeds were designated for the Alberta Children’s Hospital.
The steer was raised by the Okotoks beef club and sold for $4.50 a lb. to Canada Safeway while the lamb fetched $20 a lb. from Balzac Meats. It was then donated back to the sale and sold to Pure Country Meats in Strathmore, Alta., for $12 a lb.
The Calgary 4-H show is the largest stand-alone event of its kind in Canada. It has grown from a local achievement day to a major event that includes horse clubs, beef, lamb, poultry and guinea pigs shows, bench shows and dog agility trials.
