Sisters shines at county fair

Young Sisters stock-raisers did well at this year's Deschutes County Fair.

Pam Mitchell, leader of the Cloverdale Livestock Club, was busy with her focus on club members and their lambs in the sheep barn, getting ready for market class. Mitchell has been at the helm of the club for 29 years and was involved with 4-H as a youth.

4-H is one of the largest out-of-school youth programs in the nation. It encourages youth to learn by doing. Through animal science, home economics, art, or other project areas, it helps youth grades K-12 develop life skills through leadership activities and community service opportunities.

The Cloverdale club focuses on sheep, with members entering in showmanship (which is required for all 4-H animal handlers), market and production classes.

"Today is market class, which is all about the lamb and how well the kids have done raising their animal for market," said Mitchell. "We have 13 kids here from Sisters School District, including both my sons, and the rest from Redmond. Some of these kids have raised them on their own since birth."

Mitchell's son Nolan, 12, was standing by his older brother, Sam, 14, getting ready to go in the ring with his lamb.

"We learn something new every year. It's a lot of fun, and you learn how to be responsible for your animal," said Nolan Mitchell. "I've been entering lambs for five years now."

Co-leader Alan Hunt has been involved with the livestock club for 16 years. His 11-year-old son Willie just finished first in his class with a lamb that he raised since last April.

"These kids are not only learning hard work and responsibility, but it teaches them good business practices, too. They learn how to market their animal before the auction by sending letters to potential buyers. They have a good incentive because all the proceeds go to them after their lamb is auctioned off on Saturday," said Hunt.

Meanwhile over in the cattle barn, Betsy Ausman, a Sisters High School student, was very excited about receiving the reserve championship ribbon for her breed from the Central Oregon Livestock 4-H Club for her cow and calf that she showed together in the ring. Her steer won a blue ribbon in market class. For volunteering to help everyone in the cattle barn, Ausman received a sportsmanship award.

"I was only 8 when I asked Santa for a cow, and I remember getting a note that Christmas saying that I will be getting a cow the next June," said Ausman. "I've been showing cows for seven years now. My first was a bottle baby, and she had one calf. This is my first steer, and he will be auctioned off on Saturday and I will be paying my parents back for all the animal expenses. This has been such a learning experience for me, especially about the agriculture industry."

The 4-H exhibits building had displays ranging from expressive arts to reptiles made by creative kids that enjoy getting involved with their part of the 4-H club, whether it's sewing or livestock.

Sebastian Nelson, a Sisters High School freshman and a member of Silver Slingers archery club in Redmond, won first place for his photo display board on "How to Make a Target."

Over in Clothing and Sewing, there was a blue ribbon for Natalie Sitz, a Sisters Middle School student, on her sewing project that was also selected for State Fair.

Back in the sheep barn, Sam and Nolan Mitchell were very pleased at receiving blue ribbons for their lambs in market class.