Livestock Shows a Mooving Experience

The drizzle and grey did not keep the lambs or heifers away from the Robeson Regional Agricultural Fair's annual 4-H livestock show Saturday. The morning began early with weigh in for the 4-H lamb show. More than 30 lambs made their way into the show ring to help show why their youth should be seen as the top showmen and then they re-entered to determine the best lambs based on weights.

In the non-compeitive Cloverbud division (ages 5-8) showmanship category, Tate Naylor, Hunter Muse, Mason Hunt, McKenzie Love, and Mary Elizabeth Vorder Bruegge stole the ring and the audience's attention as they worked their lambs around the ring. Each received a special cloverbud trophy for their efforts.
In the 9-10 year old Junior age division Benjamin Herndon placed sixth, Isabelle Love went home in fifth place, Robert Seals took home forth and Ashley Wilson went home with the white third place ribbon. Eugenie Reba Vorder Bruegge and Drayton Hancock took the top showman spots.

In the Junior 11-13 year old age division Bubba McLaughlin took home the blue ribbon, Ruth Helen Vorder Bruegge placed second and Samantha Naylor followed in third place. Rounding out the division was Martha Anne Vorder Bruegge, Megan Baldwin, Steven Boudreaux, and Oliva Forbes.
In the Senior (14-19 years old) age division William Van Gilder took home first place, Heather Goodrich placed second and Jamie Boudreaux took home the white ribbon. Cooper Locke, Danielle Hunt and R. J. Trickett rounded out the division.
When it came to judging the lambs in weight classes Judge Hughes and to take his time to determine the best of the best. In the lightweight division the lambs weighed between 64 and 88 pounds. Of the 11 competitors Jamie Boudreaux placed first, Ashley Wilson with her lamb Walle placed second and Drayton Hancock's Pretty Girl placed third.

In the Middle weight division there were 11 more competitors whose lambs weighed between 90 and 124 pounds. Placing in the top three were Samantha Naylor, Benjamin Herndon with Susan and R. J. Trickett.

In the last weight division, the heavy weight division (125-144 pounds) Bubba McLaughlin took first place, William Van Gilder took second and in third place was Martha Ann Vorder Bruegge with her lamb Leroy.
The grand Champion Competition is determined by bringing all the first place market winners back into the show ring. Bubba McLaughlin walked away with the trophy and bragging rights that his goat is the best of the best. William Van Gilder took his place in the ring but it was Samantha Naylor who took home the Reserve Champion trophy.

After a 20 minute break, and a chance for some of the lambs to load up to go home, it was time for Judge Hughes to break down the 4-H Heifer and Steer Competition. All the competitors this year were in the Senior division, and after 20 minutes in the ring asking questions and observing the showmen with their heifers he placed Matthew Slover in fifth place, Stephanie Carter in forth, Katie Pesta in Third, Sarah Herring in second place and placing top in the showmanship division is Nick Kiker.

In the market show there were three division based on birth date. The first division were the heifers born in 2008, Sarah Herring with Marley placed first and Stephanie Carter with Hot Chocolate placed second. in the 2007 division the competition was a little stiffer. Stephanie Carter and her heifer Cayenne took home the white ribbon while Katie Pest with WPH Miss Time placed second and the blue ribbon went home with Nick Kiker and WPH Miss Dream. In the 2006 division Matthew Slover with Gloria placed third, Stephanie Carter with Mercedes placed second and in first place was Sarah Herring with Margarita.

Just as in the lamb show the first place heifer took over the ring again to determine the Grand Champion. In a unique turn of events Sarah Herring with Marley took Grand Champion and She also took reserve champion with her heifer Margarita.

Congratulations to all of our winners!