Lifetime 4-H Member
Growing up, my parents got my sisters and I involved with 4-H at a very early age. My first animal I ever showed at the Bowman County Fair was a ewe lamb named Lucky. I was a cute little Cloverbud who was over the moon excited to be showing my first animal! From that first year on, I knew that 4-H was going to forever be a huge part of my life.
In following years, I showed sheep, pigs, goats, and beef. My summers were dedicated to taking care of my animals. There was nothing that I loved more. We spent countless hours halter breaking sheep and steers, training pigs to walk, feeding and watering all animals, giving baths to our livestock to keep them clean and looking shiny, and so much more. It was such an amazing experience and taught me so many life lessons.
I can remember one year, my mom and I were trying to halter break the 4-H lambs, and for some reason, we were just having the hardest time with it! We had sheep in the past and didn’t have too many issues, but those sheep that year just didn’t want to lead. We tried basically dragging them down the road. We tried having my sisters chase them. We tried tying them to the 4-wheeler. We tried having our dog chase them. Nothing was working! Mom and I were so frustrated but also had so many laughs over it. We just kept trying twice a day until eventually they caved. Its still a memory Mom and I will never forget!
I also remember a time when my little sister Kari had to walk the sheep and goats by herself since the rest of us girls were gone. I come home to find Kari all scraped up. I asked what happened and she proceeded to tell me that when she was walking all 6 lambs and a couple goats, my dad drove by with the pickup and trailer and spooked them all. They all took off running with poor Kari hanging on to the lead ropes and getting drug behind on the gravel. She eventually let go and found the lambs and goats had ran back to the barn. We all got a good laugh from imagining little freckled Kari with the permed, curly hair, crocs on her feet, while wearing shorts getting drug across our yard.
All of us Sabe girls enjoyed 4-H, but I definitely had the most passion for it (especially the beef). We would all have steers, but most of the time, I just ended up taking care of all 3 steers (Kate was too young still). I would wake up early every day, wash and blow the steers, get them in the pen with fans on them, and feed them. Then repeat the process in the evening. Sometimes, if it was really hot, I would give my steer some extra attention and he would get a cold bath mid-day. My mom would often tell me that I didn’t have to take care of my sisters animals, but I would go on to tell her that come fair time, I didn’t want to be embarrassed by my sister’s animals looking bad! She would laugh at me and my sisters were thankful they didn’t have to do as much. I can’t take all the credit for the animals though, Hannah usually took charge with the pigs, and Kari enjoyed her goats (and rabbits). Once Kate was older, she followed in a similar path as me and really enjoyed the sheep and beef!
My biggest highlight for 4-H was my senior year of high school. I ended up winning Grand Champion Market Steer at the State Fair. It was the perfect way to end my career of showing!
Today I get to help volunteer at the fair! I think I’ve been helping with the show ever since my first year of college. I enjoy getting to see the kids show, especially because the older kids showing now were the little Cloverbuds back in my day.
This year, Max and I really got to give back to the 4-Hers. We were able to buy a 4-H steer at the sale! I remember being so appreciative of all the local businesses who supported us by purchasing our animals, so I am excited that we were able to do the same!
Dry Creek Ranch is proud to say that our next beef restock will be the steer we bought at the fair! Come September, get your beef ordered and know that it was raised by a hard working 4-H kid! I love seeing everything come full circle!
