Detroit Lakes, Minn. (KDLM) – Becker County 4-H livestock participants have raised two champions, two reserve champions and multiple ribbon winners at the Minnesota State Fair.
Taylor Schauer raised a champion slick-shorn steer and Thea Mattson finished in second place in the highly competitive category.
Shawndra St. Germain raised a champion rabbit in the mini-satin/senior doe division with Kylee St. Germain finishing as the reserve rabbit champion in the mini-satin/junior doe division.
Skylure Lehman also received reserve champion status for a rabbit in the Holland lop/junior buck division.
Elliot Lawrence, Becker County 4-H educator, said he’s proud of each of the Becker County 4-H kids for showing their livestock at the fair and added the kids know each show is a learning experience, which helps them become better showers and breeders in the future.
“Becker County has a really strong livestock program in 4-H,” said Lawrence. “We usually send down a pretty good showing for the state fair and we are really proud of the kids that come back with high placings, but, of course, it’s always a learning experience. We like to make sure that the kids know that as long as they are learning from year-to-year, that’s really what they are winning. It’s not all about top placings. It’s about doing better than you did the previous year.”
Lawrence also said the camaraderie between 4-H kids is unmatched. Adding, he’s still in contact with a lot of friends that he met when he was in the program.
“You are really making long-life friends,” he said. “I was in 4-H myself as a kid and I still talk to friends I made in 4-H … there’s an international exchange program, so you can make friends from all over the world, so it’s a pretty unique experience.”
Overall, Becker County 4-H entered 35 animals into competition at the state fair.
The Becker County 4-H program runs year round and anyone interested in joining 4-H should check out the University of Minnesota Extension Becker County 4-H website, Facebook page, or call: 218-846-7328.
The complete list of Becker County 4-H livestock participants and their awards can be found here.
