BASHAW, Alta. — When Takuya Tsujino arrived from Japan on an exchange program, he expected to be part of his host family’s life.
He didn’t know it would involve leading cattle around a show ring.
Tsujino was given a crash course in washing, leading and showing cattle by the Wildman family of Sangudo, Alta., with whom he has lived since the beginning of July.
“I like the farm because the people have such big hearts,” said Tsujino, 15, as he was getting ready to show a bred heifer in the junior showmanship class of the Canadian National Junior All Breeds show last week.
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“The people are so kind. There is so much nature, so wide, so much grass. In Japan there is not so much grass.”
Thomas Wildman, 13, said the family has tried to immerse Tsujino in all activities and that means spending time on the cattle show circuit, at 4-H shows and wrestling calves at branding time.
“Tak is here to learn about our culture and be part of our daily events,” said Wildman. “We’re not supposed to do anything special.”
Tsujino, who lives in a city of about 720,000, travelled to Canada with the Labo International Exchange Program. It encourages Japanese youths to travel and improve their English, learn about other cultures and expand personal horizons.
