BIG CYPRESS — After months of hard work and perseverance, about 70 4-H youth realized the fruits of their labor at the Seminole Indian 4-H show and sale on March 21-22 at the Junior Cypress Rodeo Arena in Big Cypress.

The kids, who received their calves last summer and their pigs last fall, learned to care for and raise them into show-worthy animals. The animals had to be fed, washed and walked daily. The heifers and steer had to be trained to walk on a lead and the hogs to respond to commands of the driving tool. A driving tool can be anything long and straight such as crops, canes or whips, which guides the hog around the ring.

The 4-H program also teaches kids the business of raising and selling livestock and requires them to keep a record book to log expenses. The 4-H’ers kept track of every penny spent on food, supplies and veterinarian costs. Like any other livestock producer, when the animals were sold the youth pocketed the profits.

During the show, the 4-H’ers vied for the top spot in their categories as family and friends cheered them on from the stands.

“The kids were awesome, as they always are,” said Aaron Stam, federally recognized tribal extension agent. “They put on a great show.”

For some kids, participating in 4-H is all about learning how to care for animals. For others, it’s about facing their fear of animals. Ina Robbins did just that this year as she raised a hog named Fat Patricia and showed it the ring.

“I’ve been scared of it because it runs right toward me,” said Ina, 11, as she and her sister Illiana Robbins washed the hog together while their grandmother Jeannette Cypress watched.

“It’s a learning experience,” Cypress said. “I tell her to just have fun. But the main thing is that when you start something, you will feel better if you complete it. I’m so proud of her.”

Before the show, the 4-H’ers washed and groomed their animals so they would look their best for the judges. Making a good impression on the judges was an important aspect of the show, since the kids also competed for showmanship awards.

Alyke Baker, 17, has raised animals for six years. As a graduating senior, he groomed his final hog, named Porkahauntis, before the show.

“They are a lot calmer than cows,” Baker said. “She’s really calm.”

Heifers were the first group in the show ring. The heifer program is a three year commitment in which the youth raise and breed a heifer to start a herd of their own. The first year, they show a yearling heifer, the second year a bred heifer and the third year a cow-calf pair.

At the ripe young age of 10, Timothy Urbina is another 4-H veteran. He started in the small animal group and has raised hogs for three years, but this is his first experience with a heifer.

“The best part is when I get to spend time with the animals,” he said. “It’s hard when I have to practice for the show. The heifer can be stubborn. The pig is easier, but she runs around the ring a lot.”

His diligence paid off; Timothy earned the intermediate showmanship award in the heifer category.

Both judges for the show were nationally renowned with many years of experience behind them. Heifer and steer judge Cary Crow told Stam this was one of the best shows he’s ever seen and was impressed with the Tribe’s cattle program. Swine judge Mick Culp was also impressed with what he saw.

“He’s a legend in the judging community,” Stam said. “He said watching Connor Thomas say the prayer before the show began was one of the greatest things he’s seen in a long time.”

In the show ring, Crow examined each heifer and steer and spoke to each 4-H’er. He gave a detailed analysis of each animal before naming the first, second and third place in each class. For Jacee Jumper’s first place yearling heifer, he praised the animal and gave some sage advice.

“She’s getting a little fat,” Crow said. “You’ve got to watch the feed bucket. When they get too fat, it’s more difficult for them to get pregnant.”

During the steer judging, Ila Trueblood took first place in her category and Crow summed up the winning steer aptly.

“That calf’s got a lot of beef in him; he looks like he’d be good to eat,” he said.

Khoal Cochran, who weighs 52 pounds, showed his first heifer, who weighed in at 1,147 pounds. It may have looked like 9-year-old Khoal was being dragged around the ring, but he finally got “Strawberry” to calm down and walk where he wanted her. His effort paid off; Khoal earned the Junior Showmanship award along with the Reserve Grand Champion honor.

Many more hogs took the ring than heifers and steers and just as the pigs ran around the ring, Culp had to keep up the pace. He too remarked on the attributes of the animals as he judged them with comments such as “there’s a lot of muscle on this pig.”

The end of the show meant the animals were ready to be taken to market. In this case the market came to the animals, the sale was also held in the rodeo arena the following night.

Lane Andrews, 10, raised his first steer this year.

“He’s not that mean, you can pet him and stuff,” he said while cleaning the animal’s ears before the show. “I’m excited to sell him, but kind of nervous. I feel good, but don’t want to leave him.”

Such is the business of livestock and these resilient 4H’ers have gotten a first-hand lesson.

Winners:

Grand Champion Heifer – Jacee Jumper, Brighton

Reserve Grand Champion Heifer – Khoal Cochran, Brighton

Jr. Showmanship – Khoal Cochran, Brighton

Intermediate Showmanship – Timothy Urbina, Brighton

Sr. Showmanship – Canaan Jumper, Big Cypress

Grand Champion Steer – Jacee Jumper, Brighton

Reserve Grand Champion Steer – Alice Osceola, Brighton

Jr. Showmanship – Ila Trueblood, Brighton

Intermediate Showmanship – Creek Gopher, Brighton

Senior Showmanship – Harmony Cypress, Big Cypress

Grand Champion Swine – Norman Osceola, Brighton

Reserve Champion Swine – Taryn Osceola, Brighton

Jr. Showmanship – Hannah Platt Johns, Brighton

Intermediate Showmanship – Jarrett Beecham, Brighton

Sr. Showmanship – Kaleb Thomas, Brighton