It appears the interest level and the support from the community remain very high for 4-H clubs in the Estevan area.
The annual Estevan Rotary 4-H Regional Show and Sale took place from July 3 to 5, with members from the Benson, Browning, Crossroads and Outram-Madigan 4-H Clubs participating in achievement days, judging of the cattle, presentation of awards and the annual beef auction.
Wade Brokenshire, who is the chairperson of the show and sale, praised the youths for the quality of their cattle.
“There are a lot of great producers and 4-H families,” Brokenshire told the Mercury. “We have one of the best steer shows in Saskatchewan as far as 4-H is concerned.”
Brenden Lischka from the Browning club had this year's grand champion steer. It weighed in at 1,329 pounds, and was sold to Kendall's Auto Electric for $4.30 per pound.
Casie Brokenshire had the reserve champion steer, a 1,278-pound animal that sold to Certified Energy Services for $4.25 per pound.
A total of 50 steers were auctioned off during the sale, with the largest tipping the scales at 1,554 pounds. The average sale price was $3.16 per pound, which Wade Brokenshire said is close to last year.
“We’re one of the highest sales in Saskatchewan for 4-H kids on average. We get good support from the buyers,” said Brokenshire.
The Benson 4-H club had its achievement day on July 3, and the other three clubs had their achievement days the following day.
The oral reasons and judging competition for the kids was also held on July 4.
“The kids judge a class of steers and heifers, and then they place the heifers just on points, and then for the steers they have to give their oral reasons to four judges. And that was a success again this year,” said Brokenshire.
The awards saw the young people recognized for the cattle they grew, the cleanliness of their stalls, their abilities for judging and grooming, and their overall commitment to 4-H.
For a full list of winners, please visit www.estevanmercury.ca.
During the awards, MC Wes Mack applauded the youths for the commitment they have shown during the past year, and for the cattle they have grown.
Brokenshire said 4-H helps young people develop a work ethic, and it teaches them how to critique cattle.
“They work on a project all year, and know what it takes and what it costs to feed their project, and drive it to the end to get a finished product and try to win a competition,” said Brokenshire.
