Siblings support and compete in the show ring 

By MINDY POEHL | Central Texas Edition

Tyler Luedtke (above) and his sister Brady (below), from Crowley, competed head to head in the Senior Heavy Division Championship for the Grand Champion title at the Forth Worth Stock Show. Tyler  and his cow ended up winning Charolais Grand Champion Breed. � Photos by Ty Stepp�

Feb. 9, 2006 - A brother and sister, from Crowley went head to head with their hefty Charolais’ being judged against one another, at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. 

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Luedtke, the eldest sibling, and his 1.5-year-old Charolais, Mary, ended up being the grand champion, winning Charolais Grand Champion Breed. But, his younger sister, Brady, who is 14 years old, and her two-year-old Charolais, Big Momma, won Senior Heavy Division Champion of her class, that sent her into the ring to compete for the final grand champion award.

�It�s fun competing against each other,� Brady said. �We help each other out a lot. And, we trade off winning champion and reserve in our competitions.�

�The Luedtke children grew up in the livestock business, so it just came natural that they became involved with showing livestock.

�We own slaughter houses and my dad had run hogs all over the place,� Tyler said.

Tyler had been showing cattle for seven years and he’s shown hogs for 10 years. Brady has been showing livestock for eight years, starting when she was six years old.

Tyler recently won Charolais Breed at the H.O.T. Show in Waco. He is also involved in many extracurricular activities. He plays soccer and football, he is president of Crowley FFA, and is the vice president of his 4-H chapter.

�Hopefully I will attend Tech,� Tyler said. �They have a good meat science program.�

Younger sister Brady shows pigs, heifers, steers and lambs.

�I have won lots of things (in livestock shows),� Brady said. �In the county show, I�ve won my class and breed.�

The Luedtke’s enjoy the competition.

�I really like competing against other kids,� Brady said.

��Everybody involved is a good person,� Tyler added. �Showing helps us learn responsibility. We have to take care of our animals.�

It’s helpful having a sibling competing at your side, the Luedtke’s believe.

�We help each other dry the cows and we help each other feed the cows,� Brady said.

Tyler added, “We root each other on.”