Confident competitors succeed

By LORI COPE | East Texas Edition

Nine-year-old Samantha Harris of Farmersville and her goat captured the Junior Showmanship title at the recent Northeast Texas Livestock Association show. The judge noted Samantha was professional in her methods of presenting her goat.  -- Staff photo by Cope

Sept. 22, 2005 - Kids of varied ages brought their show animals, and hopes of a big win, to the Northeast Texas Livestock Association’s jackpot livestock show competition in Sulphur Springs on Sept. 10. As part of the Hopkins County Fall Festival, the show delved out winning titles, as well as cash prizes.

The competitors ranged from elementary- to high school-aged kids.

On the younger end of the competitor’s range was 9-year-old Samantha Harris of Farmersville. She may be small in stature, but she’s big in confidence with her goat. 

As the judge placed her second in the Class I lightweight goat division, Samantha took her place next to the first place winner. A quick look at her mom, and two quick raises of her light-colored eyebrows indicated she was excited about the high placing.

Just prior to the Class I competition, Samantha had earned the Junior Goat Showmanship title. “She’s calm and professional at her job,” noted show judge Robert Matthews from Van Alystne. Matthews also pointed out Samantha’s goat has a “good set of feet and legs, and she’s very easy in the way she moves.”

�I just like goats,� the young competitor said following her time in the show ring. And, she shared, that she �does it all� when it comes to feeding, watering, and caring for her show goat.

Samantha, who attends Farmersville Elementary School, plays softball and is a member of the Sugarhill 4-H Club. “It’s a lot to do, but I really like doing it all,” she said.

One of the older kids exhibiting at the NETLA jackpot show was Ashten Gibson of Winnsboro. She led her December 2004 Brangus heifer to the Grand Champion title of the American Breeds.

�I�ve been showing for four years, and I�ve always shown Brangus,� Ashten said. Her family raises commercial and Brangus cattle, and Ashten has even taken the job of exhibiting cattle for others. A senior at Winnsboro High School, Ashten is also a member of FFA.

The Sept. 10 show in Sulphur Springs was serving as a “warm up” for the upcoming major livestock shows, Ashten shared. In the coming months, Ashten (and many other youth) will be taking their livestock projects to the East Texas State Fair in Tyler, the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and the Southwestern Exposition and Rodeo in Fort Worth.

�It takes discipline � for both of us� she said about herself and her heifer. Their day begins early on competition day, and often, ends late. On other days, there�s plenty of chores to building and maintaining a winning heifer, such as proper feeding and exercising.

Show judge Morris Mortson of Bells commented about Ashten’s heifer after selecting it as the best in the American Breeds division. “I select the best representative of that breed. And I look for one that has longevity, productivity, and femininity. … She needs to be feminine to be reproductive. … And this heifer has depth and capacity.”

After this final year in high school, Ashten said she plans to attend college and study animal science, and learn about embryo transfers … and keep showing for others.

As fall approaches, many young exhibitors are readying their livestock projects for competitions. Check Country Calendar for dates of various fairs and festivals.