First-year 4-H member shows steer, makes pajamas
By Judy Hayworth, Journal correspondent | Posted: Friday, August 01, 2008
MOVILLE, Iowa -- In his first year of 4-H, Brent Meister has jumped into the Woodbury County Fair feet first. A member of the Pierson Blue Ribbon Handy Helpers, he has livestock and other projects entered.
The 10-year-old son of Ron and Denyse Meister has two market steers, Bart and Homer, showing today. He hopes to earn blue ribbons for both.
Brent has worked with his steers almost daily since the first of June. He also has the show box ready and has completed his record book that logs, among other things, feed, feedings and the animals' weight (weighed early on and again at the fair).
"Bart weighs more, but Homer's hair is better," Brent says.
Brent has stories to tell about the steers. The firstborn of the two he named Bart, then decided a Simpson's name, Homer, was right for the second one. "Bart came into the world backwards," he says, "and when he was a bucket calf he took my sister, Megan, for a ride with the halter rope caught between her legs. I was just watching."
His other livestock, hogs -- in pens of three white and three black -- have been easier for Brent to raise because of feeding with a hog feeder that may need occasional refilling rather than the twice-a-day calf feedings.
Brent took many other projects to the fair; he made pajamas, a birdhouse, a display of the parts of a calf, and quilling, a craft taught him by sister, Megan, who also has many projects entered.
At show time today, Brent intends "to make sure my calves don't get away from me." He has a less worrisome plan for Saturday. As his club's designated pie maker for Saturday's 11:30 a.m. pie auction following the bonus sale, he hopes, "I can jump over the fence if the girls try to kiss me."
Friday's Schedule
(Senior Citizen's Day: Seniors 65 and over admitted free)
8 a.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Market and Breeding Beef
9:30 a.m. -- CoCoLeVan, Flathers Hall
10 a.m. -1 p.m. -- Blood pressure testing by Mercy Medical Center
10 a.m. -- Open class exhibit buildings open
10 a.m. -- Old Town and commercial exhibits open
10:30 a.m. -- Loess Hill Gospel Quarter, Flathers Hall
11a.m. & 1 p.m. -- Renee Sweers, "Easy Cooking Tips," Varied Industries Bldg.
1 p.m. -- Carnival opens
1-6 p.m. -- Kid Zone opens, Herbold Hall
1 p.m. Ray Thompson Magic Show, Free Stage
1 p.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Dairy Show
2 & 4 p.m. -- Mimi Shanahan, horticulturist, "Houseplant tips," Varied Industries Bldg.
2 p.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Rabbit Showmanship
3 p.m. -- 4-H Educational Presentations, Peiro Bethel Church
2:30 & 3:45 p.m. -- Ted & Michele, Country Classics, Free Stage
3:30 p.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Rabbit Show
4 p.m. -- Pedal Power Pull, Flathers Hall
7:30 p.m. -- Grand River Rodeo, Grandstand
$7 adults; $5 ages 5-11
9 p.m.-11 p.m. -- Country Dance, Mr. Tunes, Flathers Hall
The 10-year-old son of Ron and Denyse Meister has two market steers, Bart and Homer, showing today. He hopes to earn blue ribbons for both.
Brent has worked with his steers almost daily since the first of June. He also has the show box ready and has completed his record book that logs, among other things, feed, feedings and the animals' weight (weighed early on and again at the fair).
"Bart weighs more, but Homer's hair is better," Brent says.
Brent has stories to tell about the steers. The firstborn of the two he named Bart, then decided a Simpson's name, Homer, was right for the second one. "Bart came into the world backwards," he says, "and when he was a bucket calf he took my sister, Megan, for a ride with the halter rope caught between her legs. I was just watching."
His other livestock, hogs -- in pens of three white and three black -- have been easier for Brent to raise because of feeding with a hog feeder that may need occasional refilling rather than the twice-a-day calf feedings.
Brent took many other projects to the fair; he made pajamas, a birdhouse, a display of the parts of a calf, and quilling, a craft taught him by sister, Megan, who also has many projects entered.
At show time today, Brent intends "to make sure my calves don't get away from me." He has a less worrisome plan for Saturday. As his club's designated pie maker for Saturday's 11:30 a.m. pie auction following the bonus sale, he hopes, "I can jump over the fence if the girls try to kiss me."
Friday's Schedule
(Senior Citizen's Day: Seniors 65 and over admitted free)
8 a.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Market and Breeding Beef
9:30 a.m. -- CoCoLeVan, Flathers Hall
10 a.m. -1 p.m. -- Blood pressure testing by Mercy Medical Center
10 a.m. -- Open class exhibit buildings open
10 a.m. -- Old Town and commercial exhibits open
10:30 a.m. -- Loess Hill Gospel Quarter, Flathers Hall
11a.m. & 1 p.m. -- Renee Sweers, "Easy Cooking Tips," Varied Industries Bldg.
1 p.m. -- Carnival opens
1-6 p.m. -- Kid Zone opens, Herbold Hall
1 p.m. Ray Thompson Magic Show, Free Stage
1 p.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Dairy Show
2 & 4 p.m. -- Mimi Shanahan, horticulturist, "Houseplant tips," Varied Industries Bldg.
2 p.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Rabbit Showmanship
3 p.m. -- 4-H Educational Presentations, Peiro Bethel Church
2:30 & 3:45 p.m. -- Ted & Michele, Country Classics, Free Stage
3:30 p.m. -- Judge 4-H/FFA Rabbit Show
4 p.m. -- Pedal Power Pull, Flathers Hall
7:30 p.m. -- Grand River Rodeo, Grandstand
$7 adults; $5 ages 5-11
9 p.m.-11 p.m. -- Country Dance, Mr. Tunes, Flathers Hall
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 1 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
Joleen wrote on Aug 1, 2008 2:53 PM: