The Iowa Simmental Association hosted its annual Junior Field Day over the weekend. (For those of you not current on your breeds of beef, here’s the wiki link.) With a few other conflicts already on the calendar, we were on the fence about going this year. Turns out it wasn’t an issue as Sissy couldn’t participate while on crutches.

The Field Day is a chance for youth to compete in various educational competitions (sales talks, quiz bowls, etc) and exhibit cattle they’re raising in a relaxed family atmosphere.

My family raises purebred Simmental breeding stock and promote the cattle by exhibiting them at local and state shows. Sissy couldn’t wait to be old enough to take part. Until a couple of years ago I was on the board of directors for the association and helped with the Field Day, so I knew this would be a good place for her to get her feet wet. Sissy was 10 years old at the time and about 70 pounds soaking wet, the heifer was just over 1300 pounds. She was one determined little girl.

In the months leading up to the show Sissy worked with the heifer 3 or 4 times a week. Not for the sake of training the heifer – she had been shown a few months earlier, so she already knew her way around the block – but for Sissy’s sake. When you’re out weighed by 18 to 1, you need to know how to handle yourself as well as the heifer on the end of the rope. I can’t lie and say things went perfectly – there were some tears of frustration and stepped on toes along the way. Sissy hadn’t grown up around cattle and she wasn’t completely comfortable on her own with the heifer.

LuLu Watching Sissy Show (Last Year)

By the time show day rolled around, there were more than a few butterflies. The staging area leading to the show ring is often a great spot to see the manifestation of these butterflies as the cattle don’t want to stand still and the kids get quiet at the sight of the crowd. That’s the situation Sissy and I found ourselves in that day. I was holding the lead to the heifer while Sissy was quietly fidgeting with her hair. When the time came, she gathered herself, took the heifer, and entered the show ring. During her five minutes in the ring you could see Sissy slowly gain confidence. All of the things that where making her nervous were fading away… the crowd, the judge, and the other cattle. She was focusing on exhibiting the heifer – and actually enjoying it. So much so, that when she led the heifer out of the ring – her first question was “when can we do it again?”

Sissy Showing A Heifer (Last Year)

She wants to do it again?! Check back soon and I’ll show you her ‘project’ for this year.