2007 Seminole Indian 4-H Livestock Show & Sale

By Susan Etxebarria

BRIGHTON — The Tribe’s 4-H program has come a long way since the 1950s when the only youth livestock available in those difficult times were donated chickens. Wherever attendees looked, there were animals of all types at the 2007 Seminole Indian 4-H Livestock Show and Sale.

The event, held March 28-30 at the Brighton 4-H Barn Pavilion, featured the largest number of animals ever — 24 steers, 66 swine and 16 small animals.

“I was so proud to see an increase in the number of animals. This year we had first-time participation from two reservations; Fort Pierce and Hollywood,” said 4-H Coordinator Polly Osceola Hayes. “We have more youths starting younger in 4-H with small animal projects. They are getting used to caring and showing their animals and learning responsibility toward their next step of raising and showing larger animals. 4-H is steadily growing.”

There were also hundreds of adults at the Livestock Show and Sale, observing, working and milling about, so the mix of God’s creatures made for a swell of many sounds — moos, bleats, grunts, quacks, human laughter, shouts, kids’ squeals and voices from the PA system.

For three days, the children, with help from their parents, concentrated on the many chores to be done caring for their 4-H project animals. The mood was intense but exciting as the nervous and eager youngsters readied for their finale performance in the ring after eight months of hard work.

The 4-H staff, employees from Cattle & Land Operations and many other volunteers helped with various aspects of the show.

“I especially want to recognize parents who come out and help every year,” said Hayes. “These are the unpaid volunteers behind the scenes. If I leave anyone out I am sorry, but I want to especially thank those who help year after year. They are Cecilia and Frank Thomas, Adam Turtle, Emma Urbina, Mary Jene Koenes and Council Representative Andrew Bowers.”

The Show and Sale took place at the expansive grounds of the Brighton 4-H Barn Pavilion with its horse, hog and cattle barns. The parents and kids arrived with their loaded livestock trailers on March 28 for the crucial weigh-ins. This is the most important day of qualifying, “show and tell” time for the youth.

But first, every 4-H member had to submit his or her up-to-date record book. Keeping a record book is an important learning tool in 4-H since the economics of raising cattle for the marketplace are learned by doing expense sheets, profit and loss statements, medical histories and other worksheets.

Every year there are always a few whose animals do not meet the required weight of 900 pounds for a steer and 180 pounds for a hog. Cattleman Don Robertson, director of Natural Resources for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc., said a “finished” steer is ideal.

“It is a steer that has been fed properly, has a lot of fat, and when slaughtered the carcass would be graded by the USDA as U.S. Prime, U.S. High Select or U.S. High Choice,” Robertson said. “ … That depends on how the 4-H youth feeds his steer. Those that stick to a regular schedule and feeding routine at the same time every day will see an increase on their steer’s weight.”

After meeting the weight requirements, the next test in the steer project was to exhibit their ability to control their steer in the show ring in front of the sifters. This year the sifters were Shelley Humphries, Glades County extension agent; and Sonya Crawford, Okeechobee County extension agent.

Sifters are necessary for shows. If youth cannot handle their animals they may be disqualified because an unruly steer can be a danger to others. Youth with hogs do not have to go before the sifters to qualify for the show.

At the same time on March 28, the 5-to-8-year-olds in the Pee Wee Show helped set up their exhibition tent where they would care for their baby beef and dairy calf, a miniature horse, rabbits, a puppy, goats and a goose. The children lead their animals into the show ring in a parade to the applause of the audience.

For these entire three days, many parents worked along with their children. Feeding the animals and cleaning their stalls became a family affair.

“4-H takes a family commitment,” Hayes said. “It is an informal education program that requires family involvement you can’t get in the classroom.”

By the afternoon of March 29, there was much last-minute grooming of the animals. The steers were showered and brushed, and so were the hogs. The show started on time and the youths were very serious now, paying attention to the announcer’s call to the ring.

Steer show judge Zach Conlin of Indiantown, Fla. spoke to the youths individually about their showmanship skills. When he announced winners in each of the four weight classes, he explained his decisions to the audience of parents, friends and potential buyers.

This year’s Grand Champion is Brighton’s Kailin Brown, daughter of Emma and Avant Brown, who received the esteemed Blue Ribbon for her steer, Lucky. The judge told the crowd that 9-year-old Kailin’s steer, weighing in at a mammoth 1,277 pounds, was “the most finished of them all.” This was Kailin’s first year raising and showing a steer.

Kailin had shown animals in the Pee Wee competition for three years, including a baby calf last year. Her mother said it was good preparation for the Steer Project.

“I love to work with animals and I thought it would be a good experience to join 4-H,” Kailin said. “Lucky was a big baby when I first got him. As he got older he got more stubborn.”

Kailin is in the third grade at Moore Haven Elementary and is a straight-A student. Her steer came from the Tribe’s herd at Parker Island.

Skyler Burke, also from Brighton, won the second place Reserve Grand Champion title, as well as the prestigious Junior Showmanship award for the second year in a row. Skyler is the daughter of Connie Haught and granddaughter of Mabel Haught. Her steer weighed 1,190 pounds.

Ribbons for showmanship are based on the handling of the steer or swine in the ring and the exhibitors’ skill using the show stick. Steer judge Conlin repeatedly reminded the youth that showmanship is a special talent.

“When you are in the ring you have to keep your eye on the judge at all times,” he said. “Don’t take your eyes off the judge.”

Skyler excelled in keeping her steer calm and responding cooperatively to the use of the show stick, but her constant beaming smile also contributed to her high score.

“I just worked with my steer a lot to make sure he would get tame,” said Skyler. “If you let your parents do the work, then the animal doesn’t behave as well.” But Skyler said her family helped in other ways. “When I was gone and my steer got sick, they took care of him for me,” she said. “If it weren’t for them, I probably wouldn’t have won.”

Skyler also donated the first $2,000 she earned in the sale to the Dr. Keen Scholarship Fund. Her steer sold for $8 a pound.

The top award for Senior Showmanship went to Megan Bettleyoun of Brighton, even though her steer was a little rambunctious, because Megan kept her eyes on the judge without wavering. Megan’s steer weighed 1,127 pounds.

The Bettleyoun family had three children in 4-H this year. Myra Bettleyoun won a second place blue ribbon for her 1,100-pound steer.

Not everyone wins the top award, but some are worthy just because of their 4-H dedication and spirit of determination. Dylan Chalfant came close, taking second place with his steer weighing 1,261 pounds. Dylan’s steer weighed 700 pounds when he picked him out of the Chalfant herd. It was Dylan’s first year in 4-H and he did the entire project on his own.

“It was an adventure,” he said, “but there was more work than I have ever had to do.”

Following the steer show, special swine judge Cornele Peacock took over. Most first-timers are encouraged to show swine the first year to get used to the way 4-H works. There are monthly meetings and special clinics in addition to daily feedings and frequent washings.

The Grand Champion award in the Swine Project went to Jessica Long of Big Cypress whose 278-pound hog named Lunchmeat wowed the crowd, selling for $7 a pound. Jessica, 13, has been a 4-H member for four years and won Grand Champion steer in 2004. She said other activities like softball take up too much of her time, so she decided to raise a hog this year.

Jessica is the daughter of Sheila Aguilar, who was there for the three days helping out at the Pee Wee tent. Jessica got her hog from Georgia.

“I exercised him a lot but I didn’t overfeed him because I didn’t want Lunchmeat to get too heavy,” said Jessica, an honor roll student at Ahfachkee Elementary. “Market buyers are looking for the meat and not too much fat.”

The Reserve Grand Champion award in the swine project went to Rosa Urbina of Brighton, whose hog had one of the highest weights, 301 pounds. Rosa has been a 4-H member for six years and her parents are Jessie and Emma Urbina. She has won awards in the past for her steer projects but she said this year she decided to show a swine.

“I don’t want to get rid of it now. I got attached to it,” she confided.

Cassandra Jimmie of Immokalee won the Senior Showmanship award for swine; her swine weighed 234 pounds. Breanna Billie of Brighton won Junior Showmanship; her hog weighed 280 pounds. Her parents are Emerson and Jeannie Billie.

This year Hollywood Reservation had three new 4-H competitors. They were Kenneth Deschenee with a swine weighing 269 pounds, Ravenna Osceola with a steer weighing 909 pounds and Brantley Osceola with a swine weighing 287 pounds.

Hollywood 4-H members had a special challenge. They wanted to participate but had no land on which to raise farm animals. Seminole Tribe Extension Agent Michael Bond helped solve the problem with the assistance of Fred Segal, president of the Broward County Farm Bureau, who works with the 4-H Foundation of Broward County.

Siegel found an orange farmer, Bob Roth, owner of New River Groves, who was willing to set aside some land for the Hollywood youth to use for raising their animals. Also, Tribal citizen Brandy Clay of Hollywood volunteered as their club leader — a big job because she had to teach, guide and hold clinics and monthly meetings.

Edward Aguilar of Immokalee catered the buyers’ dinner on March 30. However, dinners were also available to buy throughout the three days at the vendors’ tent operated by Mary Jo Micco.

Bond was the show’s announcer. He also assisted in the weigh-in of the swine including use of a sonogram from the University of Florida that will provide carcass data about the swine. It analyzes fat content and gives results that will provide information on better methods of raising 4-H swine in the future.

One 4-H member did not get to show his steer, but still shines as an example of 4-H leadership. Randel Osceola of Brighton, this year’s president of the Brighton Steer Club, attended 4-H Officers’ Training and conducted the meetings with a firm hand, said 4-H Coordinator Hayes. Someone carelessly or deliberately opened his gates and let his steer out. It got loose and was never found.

“Despite the disappointment, it didn’t keep Randel from fulfilling his responsibilities as the president,” Hayes said.

He participated in the Livestock Show and Sale, too, she added.

“He helped out during the weigh-ins and he helped other kids wash their steers,” Hayes said. “I was so proud of him coming out and offering to help. That is what 4-H responsibility is all about.”