Sisters kids shine in 4-H fair

There are still corners of the country where a prize chicken is something to crow about; where a young person who raises a champion pig can wallow in accolades and a good bidding price.

The 2005 Deschutes County Fair was such a place last weekend. Sisters youths proved to be outstanding this year in their 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America) projects.

Sisters Community Critters4-H group had some fine examples of kids who are learning sportsmanship, responsibility and teamwork by raising, caring for and showing their animals at the fair.

When Heather Wester of Sisters (the SCC 4-H leader) started the club, her goal was to create a club where a child could join, learn, and compete with any farm animal of their choosing as opposed to limiting the member to one specific animal.

“When you have multiple children wanting to raise different animals going to all the different meetings can get pretty hectic. Consolidating makes a lot of sense and helps the parents out also,” said Wester.

There are currently 12 members of Sisters Community Critters raising and showing a variety of different animals from chickens to sheep, to hogs and horses, and goats, too.

Wester’s son Hayden, 12, received a blue and a return in Market Hogs and did very well at the hog auction this year. He also shows chickens and horses and won Junior Champion in Dressage and Reserve Champion in English Equitation (see The Nugget, August 3).

Wester’s daughter Jessica, 10, won blues in all her horse gaming classes and a blue in market hog this year.

“Even though it can get pretty hard I really like to show a variety of animals,” Hayden told The Nugget. “I learn a lot about each animal’s conformation and the responsibility it takes to raise and train them.”

Quincy Burke, 14, is also member of SCC.

“I like the learning experience, making friends, plus getting to raise my market hog without my parent’s help has taught me a lot about accountability and responsibility,” Burke said.

The parents of Drew Herron, 14, and Delise Herron, 10, say they like the versatility of the group and the way each child is encouraged to raise and show a variety of animals.

“It expands their knowledge and varies their animal husbandry education,” said father Glen Herron.

The Herron family owns a Nigerian dwarf goat and their two children raised two hogs to bring to the fair this year. “I really like that my kids get to learn the proper ways to raise and handle a variety of different species of animals,” said mother Michelle.

Both of their children did well showing their different animals this year.

Aubyn Geser, 16, of Sisters, joined the group with a Hampshire/Yorkshire cross hog this year. She had spent three years showing sheep and decided to try her hand at raising a market hog.

“It took some convincing before my mom would allow me to obtain and raise a pig,” said Geser.

But when Aubyn finally got permission she went right to work. She learned about and researched all the pig breeds until she came up with one that had ideal potential as a market pig. Last spring she found a breeder and arranged for the three-hour drive to purchase four piglets for herself and two other members of SCC. All on her own she researched the type of feed she would use for optimum growth of her market hog. As the months progressed Geser freely shared her knowledge with the other kids in the group.

“My leader, Heather Wester, is so helpful and hard working for us, I just wanted to show her that what she does for us makes a difference in our lives,” said Aubyn.

And all the hard work paid off this year for Aubyn Geser. Not only did her hog do well at auction, she won the 4-H reserve champion Market Hog, and won the Deschutes County Fair’s overall Market Hog champion.

“I gained so much experience and respect from my peers and my parents. Now my mom is going to let me raise another market hog next year,” said Aubyn.

Wester says she loves to help children succeed and 4-H is a great venue for that.

“4-H is really all about youth development. The kids learn so many important life skills above and beyond animal husbandry...such as work ethic, salesmanship, personal responsibility, writing, budgeting, math skills, record keeping, and accountability,” said Wester.