A 4H Show Steer Auction!
As I sit here typing this I have to pause periodically to pluck errant hay pieces from my hair. Although rolling in the hay is a fun diversion, I instead was sitting on a huge set of of bleachers constructed out of hay bales for most of the afternoon.
Why would I be languishing on top of dried and cured grass you might be wondering? Well today was one of our local cattle farm's 4H steer auction. My lovely daughter has shown hogs the last couple of years, and so bitten by the livestock show bug is she, that my darling child wanted to branch out to the market steer side of the fairgrounds. Not that I mind her showmanship determination and drive, for she is the one putting the work in, and if there is one thing I love, it is disciplined and dedicated kids.
With that sentiment tapping me on the temple, my husband and I found ourselves driving down to a local cattle farm that auctions off show steers every fall. I am not completely inexperienced with cattle, as I grew up around a few hundred of them, but when it comes to market steer projects and showing I am a complete neophyte.
At around 1:30 this afternoon we pulled into the driveway of Mclean Cattle's awesome operation and soon found ourselves inspecting the twenty weaned steers that were going to be auctioned off today. I have to tell you, I am more than a little fond of baby cows, so while most people were checking out top-lines and briskets, I was dispensing ear scratches and baby talk. After a cursory inspection of the little beeflets, I had marked which steers I thought were fair bits of bovine for a first year showman, er girl. Interestingly enough, both my husband, daughter, and I all picked similar animals.
One nice thing about the Mclean's stock is they take the time to halter, lead, and trailer train the little fellows. Now they are not completely show trained, but they are some of the most gentle and docile weanling steers that I have ever seen!
Hamburger in one hand (They had free food!), and buyer's number in the other, we parked our rears on the big stack of hay bales that served as bleachers. A lot of our friends were in attendance, so the time between stock inspection and auction flew by as we enjoyed a reunion picnic of sorts.
Soon the fun began, and what I mean by fun is watching both parents and 4H kids scramble to bid for their favorites. I am most definitely not an auction type, so being the good parent that I am, passed that duty on to my husband. He has the most amazing nerve and poker face, like I am sure that the men inhabiting Mt Rushmore crack more facial expressions than the husband of GK does in a potentially tense situation. I am more of the "aware of too much, barely restrained anxiety bomb" variety of person.
An hour later I found myself writing a rather largish check for a chunk of beef that is possibly the cutest hunk of hamburger this side of the Continental Divide. My not so little Squeaky child christened him "Elroy" and brand inspection paperwork in hand, we headed for home.
Elroy is now tied in his stall in our barn, happily munching on some hay. I currently find myself happily munching on some cauliflower rice spaghetti and feeling some warm fuzzy feelings of thankfulness that we as a family were able to give my very motivated daughter an opportunity to pursue something that she desires to do. The amount of work that the kid put into her 4H projects over the last two years proved to us that she was ready to handle the next step in her show journey, and I can't tell you how good it feels to be able to facilitate someone's dream.
And with that I shall leave you all this fine Sunday evening. I have some hay to dig out of my unmentionables.
And as always, all of the images in this post were taken on the author's hay and steer slime covered iPhone.