First year to show proves to be -- colorful

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

May 6, 2004 -- Amber Bain, a Wharton County 4-H'er, is pretty much a typical 12-year-old girl. She enjoys spending time with friends; but this blue-eyed, blonde also spends a lot of time with a four-legged, brown-eyed heifer she affectionately calls Missy.

The quality time with the heifer, officially named B-H Amber's Little Miss Perfect, has led to a great collection of ribbons and awards.

This is Amber's first year to exhibit an animal in livestock show competition. A friend was showing dairy cattle, "and I really liked them, so I got into showing."

Amber purchased the heifer from Thelma Hall, with the stipulation the bovine's registered name begin with her late husband's initials, B.H.

"It took me about 15 minutes to halter break Missy," Amber shared. "Jerseys are easy."

Of the six U.S. dairy cattle breeds, Jerseys are known for being small and docile, and they have the longest productive herd life of all the other U.S. dairy breeds. Jerseys' milk contains 20 percent more protein and 15 percent more calcium than average milk.

Interesting facts about Jerseys, as well as Holsteins, Guerneys, Brown Swiss, Milking Shorthorns, and Ayrshires, are known by Amber -- not something most sixth graders spend time learning about. But Amber is part of the Wharton County Dairy Judging Team. In the Coastal Bend 4-H District competition, she earned third place high-point individual honors for knowing a lot about dairy cows. The team, comprised of Amber, brother Ethan Bain, Shelby Rod, and Gregory Rod, brought home a first place in the Holstein division, first in reasons, and third in the Brown Swiss division from competition in Fort Worth this year.

Amber also competes with the 4-H Livestock Judging team. At the Coastal Bend 4-H District event, she earned a first place high-point individual award. And, her recordbook for beef won second place.

At the Wharton County competition, Amber's recordbook placed first and she earned a first place herdsman award; plus the livestock judging team she is a member of won second place overall in the junior division.

With her heifer Missy, Amber also has an array of award-winning ribbons, which when pulled out so she can read the wins straight off the fabric, make a colorful reminder of achievement. From competition in Houston, Missy earned fourth place in her class in the junior show; and third place in the open show. From the Heart of Texas Fair in Waco, Missy won a second place ribbon. At San Antonio, wins included first place class winner in the junior division, second place in the open show, and an honorable mention. County show competitions in Wharton and Fayette netted first place wins.

Amber picked up the junior showmanship title at San Antonio, and won first in showmanship at the Wharton County Dairy Show.

But don't think this 12-year-old's time is consumed with a dairy heifer and shows; she is also involved, and wins, in archery competitions through the county's 4-H shooting sports club. "I've gotten either first or second place in the events I went to," Amber said. Hunting is also on her list of "favorite things to do."

Sarah Womble, Wharton County Extension Agent - 4-H, noted Amber is one of the more active 4-H'ers in her county. "She's a neat kid. She's always positive and fun to be around."

As a sixth grader at Louise Middle School, and a member of the Louise Junior FFA chapter, Amber said she plans to continue her education through Texas A&M University at College Station and become a veterinarian. "I love animals," she shared.