Eager to learn | 11-year-old already has years of experience working with cattle
When it comes to showing cattle, Jacey Massey is the lady of the rings.
She has been exhibiting cattle for seven years and since joining 4-H two years ago, each event has added to her list of successes.
Her black steer weighing close to 1,300 pounds was a behemoth but the 11-year-old led it to the grand championship circle at 4-H on Parade in Calgary held May 30 to June 1.
She also had reserve supreme champion purebred female and a junior champion showman with her steer and champion intermediate junior grooming team.
Read Also
Beef check-off collection system aligns across the country
A single and aligned check-off collection system based on where producers live makes the system equal said Chad Ross, Saskatchewan Cattle Association chair.
“I like going to shows and learning from some of the best people in the industry. I just love it,” she said.
Last year she had the reserve champion steer at this same show, which is Canada’s largest 4-H event.
While she is only in Grade 6, Massey sees cattle as part of her future, no matter what career choice she makes.
“I like the showing part and being able to interact with the animals,” she said.
“I would say they are some of my best friends,” she added, admitting it is hard to see them sold at the final sale. She sold her steer for $8.25 a pound to the Calgary Stampede. She plans to invest her show winnings to buy more cattle for her herd named JM New Trend Cattle.
Massey works with her cattle every day.
She has shown at the Toronto Royal Winter Fair, Canadian Western Agribition, Calgary Stampede and Summer Synergy in Olds as well as numerous junior events. She is also a member of the junior Simmental association.
Her parents Tim and Derri Massey own New Trend Cattle Co. and raise purebred Simmentals near Strathmore, Alta.
They have also won their fair share of awards, but these days want to devote more time to the junior side of the business to support Jacey and other kids who are interested in agriculture.
“Going forward, it is going to be go with our daughter and let her try and find her way in the cattle industry,” said her mother, Derri.
“These kids have so much more opportunity. The scholarship opportunities and teaching these kids, it is not just about showing your cattle, it’s about the marketing and making them better people,” she said.
Also at the steer show, the reserve champion award went to Coleman Nixdorff of Airdrie, who sold his Black Baldy steer for $6.50 a pound to Cam Clark Ford of Calgary.
The Irricana 4-H beef club raised a steer for charity and earned $10,000 by selling tickets on a chance to win it. Proceeds were donated to Ronald McDonald House.
