REGINA – At 13, Bradley Blair may have been the coolest showman at
Canadian Western Agribition.
The Lanigan, Sask., 4-Her put a halter on his black cow two months ago
and walked through the Maine Anjou junior show and international 4-H
judging and youth show, winning grand championships and ultimately the
supreme champion in a competitive mixed breed event.
His parents, Kevin and Noreen, bought VCC Simmer 193K as an
eight-month-old heifer for Bradley. They became instant buddies.
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Poised and confident between shows, Bradley expected the two year old
to be competitive.
“I have a feeling she’ll do pretty well,” he grinned.
This cow held a lot of eye appeal for Bradley, who has been competing
in the show ring since he was nine.
He liked its attitude and its blue-black hair coat. It also fit in well
with the family program at Blair Boyz Cattle where they have been
raising black Maine Anjou for 15 years.
The cow will be his 4-H project until next July when it will be shown
at regional shows. He enters five and six events a year, culminating
with Agribition.
With help from his parents and four years of 4-H, Bradley has learned
grooming techniques, showmanship and confidence before the judges. He
can continue in the junior programs until he is 21.
He owns four cows and his parents are willing to let him take time off
school to attend.
“This is a secondary education with a change of pace and different
friends,” said his mom Noreen.”It’s a different kind of education.”
A Grade 7 student at Lanigan, Bradley is the only person in his class
who takes time off for Agribition or any other farm events.
“They think I’m lucky,” he said.
When he’s older, he will be allowed to attend the full week at
Agribition rather than just his show days.
He is also a golfer and plays defence for the Lanigan Pirates.
Purebred cattle have been a mainstay with this family, although the
Maines were Noreen’s idea. Her father was among the first group of
Canadians to import these cattle from France 25 years ago. Her husband
had a Simmental background and she convinced him to switch to this
moderate sized, docile breed.
“They’re good cattle with kids,” she said.
