HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-09-22, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2011.
By Zach Drost
The Huron County South 4-H
Sheep Club met at the farm of Deb
and Les Falconer on Monday, Sept.
5 at 7 p.m. Members wrote the
Huron County Quiz and a sheep quiz
about the Shepherd’s Calendar.
The leaders talked about the club’s
Achievement Day which was at the
Seaforth Fall Fair on Sept. 9. The
leaders discussed key factors in
showing a lamb for confirmation
and showmanship.
When showing a lamb for
confirmation, the judge is looking
for a clean lamb that stands squarely
on all four legs. The judge is also
looking for a clean lamb that stands
squarely on all four legs. The judge
is also looking at the finish,
particularly at the muscle versus fat
of the lamb; a lamb with a long loin
and a well-developed leg of lamb.
Members will also participate in a
showmanship class, where the judge
looks for how well members can
show off their project lambs.
Members are to keep an eye on the
judge, never put themselves between
the judge and the lamb and keep a
light touch on the lamb’s jaw to
control the lamb.
Leaders presented some of the tips
for preparing their fleeces. This
includes removing belly wool and
debris such as chaff or manure.
Members were reminded to arrive at
the fairgrounds between 8:30 and
8:45 a.m. that day.
The Seaforth Fall Fair was the
setting for the Achievement Day for
three Huron County Sheep Clubs on
Sept. 9.
Members from the Lucknow and
Huron County North and South 4-H
Clubs and over 50 members
participate in the fair, so the
competition was fierce.
As members arrived at the fair, on
a bright and sunny morning all
members found a pen to house their
4-H project animals. Then a sign
was stapled to the pen so fair-goers
would know whose lamb they were
looking at. After a final primp and
check, the 4-H achievement program
began with judge Jason Jackson in
the ring.
Breeding ewes were the first
animals shown with the judge
looking for a large, strong lamb that
carries strong breeding traits on to
its offspring. Junior breeding ewe
class saw Luke Hendricks showing
the champion lamb. The Senior
Breeding class was slightly larger
and Graham Finley won the class.
First- and second-place finishers
entered the ring again and the judge
had to decide who he placed first.
Finley had the Champion Breeding
ewe and senior breeding ewe
second-place finisher Alison
Terpstra showed the Reserve
Champion.
The light market lamb was next,
with a huge class of 25 members for
the judge to look at. The judge
looked for lambs with a long loin,
square stance on all four legs and a
generous leg of lamb. Kabrina
Bishop showed the first-place lamb
and Murray Dale was second. The
heavy market lamb was shown by
Taylor Kinsmen with Kayla Bishop
showing the second-place finisher.
The top two members of each class
entered the ring to find the show
champion; this title was earned by
Kabrina Bishop and Reserve
Champion going to Kinsmen.
Cheryl McLachlan was the next
judge to enter the ring for the
showmanship classes. The members
are judged for how well they pay
attention to the judge, set up their
lamb, show off the lamb to its best
advantage, etc. The 12 senior 4-H
members were the first to show their
lambs. Kayla Bishop was the winner
of the class. There were 15 members
in the intermediate class and Arden
Coultes earned stop spot. The junior
showmanship class had nine lambs
to look at and Ashley Johnston won
the class. The Novice class is for
first-time showman and 16 members
had joined the 4-H sheep clubs this
year. Tiffany Dietner won as novice
showman. The showmanship ended
with the PeeWee class or underage
4-H members. Alex Coultes won the
class. First- and second-place show
persons from each category entered
the ring together. Senior members
were the overall winners with Kayla
Bishop as Champion and Graham
Finley as Reserve Champion.
The 4-H members also brought a
fleece to the fair Ashtyn
Morgenstern was the wool judge
assisted by Josh Bruton. Judges look
for strength, size, crimp, cleanliness
and colour of the fleece. Margaret
Vincent had the Champion Fleece
and Emma Enders earned the
Reserve Champion.
Brandon McGavin is halfway
across the country now, but over the
Labour Day weekend he was
winning gold for Huron County at
the Canadian Plowing Match in
Owen Sound.
McGavin, having claimed first
prize two years ago, and second
prize last year, was happy to reclaim
the top spot.
“I was kind of disappointed with
my performance last year,” he said.
“It felt good to get it back this year.”
McGavin, from Walton, said that
the race for first wasn’t as close as it
usually is.
“Andrew Graham, who took first
last year, was in second,” he said. “I
think he was 19 or 20 points behind
me. It’s not a huge lead, but it’s
definitely big enough and I’ve only
won before by one or two points.”
This will be the last match for a
few years for McGavin, who is
currently at school in Alberta at Olds
College.
“I think I’ll take a few years off
from plowing,” he said. “I’ll get
back into it when I’m done school.”
He said that, while he’s been asked
to plow competitively in Alberta, he
thinks he’ll abstain.
“I’m kind of an Ontario guy, I
don’t think I’ll plow [in Alberta],” he
said.
McGavin is studying business, and
while he is considering coming back
home to work in the family business,
he hasn’t decided on anything yet.
“I’m taking business management
with the two scholarships I’ve won,”
he said. “I worked in the family
business last year, and I really
enjoyed it, but I’m keeping my
options open.”
McGavin had plenty of support at
the Owen Sound competition, and he
said that a lot of that has to do with
how well he did.
“It’s really nice when people from
around home come to support me,”
he said. “It really calms me down
and helps me focus when I see those
familiar faces watching me.”
As for who helps him the most,
McGavin said, without hesitation,
it’s his father Brian McGavin.
“I have to thank my dad the most,”
he said. “He coached me all through
my youth and he’s taught me
everything I know about plowing.
“He’s helped with any new
modifications you can get to get
better at plowing, and he usually
foots the bill,” he said. “I wouldn’t
be where I am today without
him.”
Sheep Clubs showat Seaforth Fair
McGavin speaks
on Canadian title
Wild and wooly
Chantal VanSchaik, left, and Phaedra Scott of Blyth Public School got up close and personal
with some livestock during the final installment of the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair
in Belgrave on Sept. 14. (Denny Scott photo)
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