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Siblings enter commercial classes

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The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is underway, with junior market goat, market lamb, and breeding heifer classes taking place this week, market barrows this weekend, and market steers next week. 

Three local youth competed in the junior commercial steer show at Houston, and although they were not in the top four (the only ones placed out of the 151 contestants in the class), they are learning animal husbandry, nutrition, and business skills that will last throughout their lifetimes.

Jr. Commercial Steers

Seth, Jake, and Abi Grace Hale each selected three animals to feed for Houston out of a truckload of Red Angus steers purchased by their parents. Jake selected an additional two steers to feed for San Antonio. 

The siblings have cared for their animals for the last 174 days. 

“We own three sale barns in Oklahoma, so we have some regular customers that we buy from each year,” said the children’s mother Aimee Hale. “We let the kids choose the animals they think will do the best, and they feed them out here by our house in Albany. All the steers they chose graded high choice.”

The junior commercial steer classes are judged based upon the performance of each of the pens of steers, not only on the hoof and on the rail, but also on average daily gain. Additionally, the exhibitors are evaluated on their knowledge of the project.

“They turned in a detailed record book, took part in interviews, took a beef science exam and a meat ID quiz, as well as completed mathematical closeouts on their cattle,” said Aimee Hale. “They have to know about animal health and the business aspects of the project, like how to apply for a loan.”

San Antonio

Jake Hale also exhibited a pen of two Red Angus steers in the junior commercial steer show at San Antonio last month.

The Nancy Smith Elementary School sixth grader competed against 68 other students, ages eight to 18, and placed in the top third of the division. 

Jake’s twin Abi Grace and older brother Seth were not able to go to San Antonio this year.

Jake Hale’s steers, fed under his supervision for 157 days, received grades of Prime 2 and High Choice 2. The exhibitor was also judged on his project record book, scores on a college level beef science exam, and an oral presentation he gave by memory to an audience of around 500 people about the importance of agriculture families to our society.

Youth Rodeo

Albany junior high student Cort Peterson competed in three events in the nine to 12 year-old division of the youth rodeo at the San Antonio Livestock Show last month.

Peterson competed in Co-ed Breakaway Roping, Calf Touching, and Ribbon Roping.