Getting cattle show ready
Lots of behind-the-scenes advance work precedes fair-time laurels
By Taryn Lessman
Reese Anderson knows what it's like to spend the summer at the fairgrounds.
Between the Jackson County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, over the past several years, the Jackson high school student has racked up a number of hours showing cattle.
Last year at the Jackson County Fair, Anderson exhibited the champion 4-H breeding heifer. She placed fifth at the Minnesota State Fair's 4-H beef show.
Being involved with livestock in 4-H is a family tradition for Anderson, who said her siblings also showed and also enjoyed success at both the county fair and the state fair.
The process of getting cattle show ready starts long before the fair, Anderson said. In the spring, show cattle need to be put on the right diet and start getting trained to be used to the show process.
First, the cattle need to get used to the person showing them and to get used to the environment they are in, Anderson said. Then, they need to be halter broken. Halter breaking is a multi-step process Anderson said includes teaching the calves how to walk on the halter, how to stand when haltered and how to behave during a show. In order to teach the calves how to behave during shows, Anderson leads them and teaches them how to stand correctly.
Anderson said it is important to spend time daily practicing with the cattle so they can build trust and get used to the routine.
Reese Anderson knows what it's like to spend the summer at the fairgrounds.
Between the Jackson County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair, over the past several years, the Jackson high school student has racked up a number of hours showing cattle.
Last year at the Jackson County Fair, Anderson exhibited the champion 4-H breeding heifer. She placed fifth at the Minnesota State Fair's 4-H beef show.
Being involved with livestock in 4-H is a family tradition for Anderson, who said her siblings also showed and also enjoyed success at both the county fair and the state fair.
The process of getting cattle show ready starts long before the fair, Anderson said. In the spring, show cattle need to be put on the right diet and start getting trained to be used to the show process.
First, the cattle need to get used to the person showing them and to get used to the environment they are in, Anderson said. Then, they need to be halter broken. Halter breaking is a multi-step process Anderson said includes teaching the calves how to walk on the halter, how to stand when haltered and how to behave during a show. In order to teach the calves how to behave during shows, Anderson leads them and teaches them how to stand correctly.
Anderson said it is important to spend time daily practicing with the cattle so they can build trust and get used to the routine.
