Natalie Wester of Louisburg, N.C., is following in her father's footsteps. In her first year showing heifers at the state fair, she won $800.
To a teenager, that's big money.
Her dad, Len Wester, also showed calves as a teen, and it paid off. "My brother and I made enough money to buy our first cars," says Len.
For both parent and child, the long-term benefits of showing heifers are far greater than the cash prizes. After the animals' show careers end, these heifers go into the Westers' beef herd. And despite the cow slobber, flies and hot hours tugging on a balky calf, Natalie has become keenly interested in genetics, nutrition and herd health.
In fact, working with the heifers has heightened her love for animals so much that Natalie has decided to become a large-animal veterinarian.
Len and Natalie work together to feed the cows and make plans for developing their beef herd. "She's the best gate opener you've ever seen," says Len with a laugh.
When Natalie decided to show heifers, she started by calling her Franklin County, N.C., Extension office. She hit the jackpot with livestock agent Martha Mobley, who also showed heifers as a teenager. In addition, Mobley has served on North Carolina State's livestock-judging team. She helped Natalie and Len choose the show heifers.
Here are some of the criteria considered by Mobley and the Westers:
Milk production
Because these animals go into the commercial herd, Len picks heifers from cows that produce plenty of milk.
Depth and carrying capacity
Mobley looks closely at both.
Structural correctness (legs and feet)
This helps to increase foraging ability.
Disposition
This is important. Nervous and flighty heifers make poor show animals and hard-to-handle brood cows.
You can either buy heifers or pick them from your cow herd. Some producers purchase heifers with top genetics and improve their cow herds. Others show heifers to advertise their farm's replacement females.
For years, Mobley's mother has provided show heifers for children whose families don't have cows. The youngsters learn about cattle and keep any prize money. The shows spotlight Meadow Lane Farm's replacement females, and the gentle heifers go back into the herd.
"The other night a storm downed a tree on a fence, and the cows got out. We took a bucket of feed and a halter and caught one of the former show heifers. She led the rest of the cows back into the pasture," says Mobley.