More than 25 local youths gathered at the Cullman County Fairground on Tuesday evening to participate in an event that is for most, a labor of love. The young people, from various communities in the Cullman area, had gathered to exhibit the fruits of their ongoing labor in the annual youth steer show.

The event not only gave spectators the chance to see some of the most well raised beef cattle in the area, but also offers a look at the hard work and passion that many young people are putting into farming.

“This is all I‘ve ever known, I grew up on a farm, and I’ve been working with cattle and gathering eggs in the chicken house since I was four,” said participant Nathan Day, a 16-year-old, self-proclaimed farm boy from Cold Springs.

Day said that the best part of showing cattle was being able to experiment with the animal throughout the year.

“It’s really fun, almost kind of scientific—you’re always changing up feeds just to see a gain or a loss in weight, and keeping track of what you’ve done with the animal in the past,” Day said.

Day’s plans for after high school definitely include agriculture, according to the junior at Cold Springs High School. He hopes to attend Auburn University to achieve a degree in Animal Nutrition before returning home to his family’s farm.

“I really just love the idea of being a farmer,” said Day. “It’s a feeling like no other to know you’re your own boss and nobody’s going to be out there telling you how to manage your business.”

Third generation farmer Shayne Pinyon, a 16-year-old junior from Holly Pond, said wouldn’t trade his lifestyle for anything.

“There is a huge amount of work that goes into these steers, they have to be washed, brushed, shampooed, and fed about twice a day,” Pinyon said. “But farming is hard work, this is just a perk that comes along with it, these shows are a great place to meet new people and hang out with friends.”

That hard work paid off later that night when Pinyon was awarded Grand Champion in the junior steer show.

One West Point High School senior, Katie Edwards, said that many of her friends don’t understand why she participates in steer shows.

“A lot of my friends just don’t get why I love doing this so much, I’ve lived on a farm all my life and this is just a part of who I am,” said Edwards.

Edwards plans to be a high school ag teacher after attending Auburn University, she said that she would also like to own a farm where show steers are raised.

Many of the participants in the show were members of Future Farmers of America (FFA) or 4-H organizations at their schools. Steve Mullins teaches Agriculture related classes at Cold Springs High School and directs 4-H and FFA for the school.

“FFA and 4-H are growing every year at our school, we have a lot of students and most of the ones in the organizations plan to get into Ag after high school.”

 Proud parents were also very visible at the family oriented event.

“This is a great thing for kids to get into,” said Jeff Williams, whose son, Nick, was competing. “You hear about these young people that sleep late in the afternoon every weekend, that’s not on a farm— there its about hard work, responsibility, and family.”

Williams also said that they have a lot of fun at the steer shows and cited Cullman as one of the best places to compete.

 

* Sam Rolley can be reached by e-mail at srolley@cullmantimes.com or by telephone at 734-2131 ext. 225.