Page 14 - Brandon Sun | Royal Manitoba Winter Fair Special Section

14 THE BRANDON SUN • ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR • MARCH 27 — APRIL 1, 2017

Youth flock to cattle show

BY IAN FROESE more cattle in the area that we have,” local cattle show circuit, saved up his
Carvey said. money for post-secondary schooling. He
This year’s cattle call has attracted Beginning Tuesday, more than 20 will graduate from veterinarian school
double the number of young cattle youth will get a crash course on the show this year.
producers. cattle industry through a sold-out clinic “It’s primarily a youth-oriented show,”
Approximately 55 youth and 95 head run by Kirk Stierwalt, an accomplished Ron Kristjansson said. “Knowing that
of cattle will take part in this week’s cattle cattle fitter from Oklahoma. there’s that much growth in it … it shows
shows at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair. By Thursday, the cattle shows begin. the future is bright.”
In recent years, the fair has averaged There are a variety of classes, including These young farmers, Carvey said, are
20-30 young farmers and 40-60 cattle. market steers and all-breed junior heifer. a testament to that.
Shannon Carvey, co-chair of the cattle Some of the exhibitors, who have They wake up early every morning to
show, said the surprising influx is partially taken a calf from weaning to market feed their herd and spend months
attributed to more sign-ups from weight, will have a finished market steer preparing to show off their cattle,
Saskatchewan, but she wasn’t sure what to sell. working on clipping, hoof trimming and
prompted the registration upswing in The youth exhibitors use the cash they showmanship.
either Prairie province. make to increase the size of their herd “A lot of them, this is their hockey, this
“It makes our show that much better,” or put toward a college fund, explained is their basketball, this is their volleyball,”
Carvey said of the jump in entrants. Carvey. she said of this week’s cattle shows.
“Every time there’s more competition “It supports a really good group of kids “They have spent a tremendous amount
and more opportunity for the kids to that are kind of essentially running their of time preparing to come to our show.”
make connections with other kids who own little businesses.” The cattle shows are located at the Ag
have the same interest, it’s a good thing.” Ron Kristjansson, general manager of Action stage in the Royal Farm Yard
At this point, they are nearing capacity the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, starting on Thursday.
for what their arena can hold. knows this better than most.
“I’m not exactly sure how I’d fit any One of his sons, who went through the » The Brandon Sun