Aggie Classic Jack Pot Calf Show

As you already know, the kids raise club calf steers for our county fair held in August each year. It is a year long project! We found this jack pot steer show last year and took the kids and their steers to it...it's nothing like the county fair! Most people are "professional" jack pot competers! They travel all over the country to show their steers...you pay entry fees and if you place, you can win money & prizes. This years top steer won over $1800 in cash and prizes! When you show a steer, they are suppose to be ready to go to market...have fat on them and be a finished weight. Well our date to finish is August 17th, so our steers aren't even close to looking finished so the judges are pretty critical when giving their opinions. We keep telling the kids that there is no way they can place at this spring show, we take them for the experience and to get the steers use to being bathed, shaved, groomed (with mouse, blow dryer, combing, hairspray, oil finish...you name it, we use it!) Just thought it would be fun to show some pictures from our day to town!

Katelyn - Too Grown UP!

My little girl is no longer that...Katelyn turned 12 on April 16th. She is beautiful young lady who enjoys collecting knives, playing sports (basketball, baseball, and volleyball), showing her club calf steer, and riding horses. She has also learned to play the guitar and just today, she got a new bass guitar...wow, she can't wait to learn to play it. Katelyn is in 6th grade and I would have to say that her favorite class is Art. I'll try to scan a couple of her drawings and add them for all to see. I think she's got a hidden talent. Katie just finished playing on a competative basketball team...she enjoyed playing, but it was the teams first year playing together and we didn't do so well against the other teams who have been playing together for years! The baseball season will begin here shortly and she's really excited to start playing. She likes to play at 3rd base or as catcher (which I think she plays the best). Katelyn is looking forward to her new baby colt being born...it is due on April 29th, but could come any day now. We'll share more on that later!

Nate - State FFA

Nate competed in the FFA Creed Speaking competition last fall and won his chapter competition and then won the district competition. This qualified him to compete in the Idaho State FFA Creed competition held on April 10, 2008. There were nine students from around the State of Idaho. The preliminary round was held that morning and they took the top 4 students - no particular order to the finals held that evening. Nathan was selected for the final round...we were so excited for him. Last October, Nate got to attend the National FFA convention back in Indianopolis, Indiana. HE LOVED IT!! When he got home, he told us that he was going again next year. We explained that this wasn't a trip he got to take every year...maybe, he could go his senior year. He told Blake and I that he was going to win the State FFA Creed Speaking and then his trip would be paid for. (I thought, "that's a pretty big chunk to bite off...but I guess that's what goals are all about".) Anyway, he totally nailed his presentation and questions that night and was awarded 1st place!! He gets the paid trip to the National Convention after all!! We are all so proud of him!