Bashaw’s ag grounds were packed during the busy junior cattle show held last week.
Organizer Jackie Northey said there were five different programs being run at the same time during the end of the year of junior cattle programs, with groups coming from British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan.
“What happens is we have kids coming from all different programs,” she explained, with kids from as young as two years old up to 20.
Included is an all-breeds show with judges providing feedback on youths’ cattle.
There is also the Young Cattlemen’s program with youth first earning the right to compete in Bashaw; from there a winner will be picked who had to go through a number of steps.
The third program is the western Canadian show team judging, with teams also competing for the right to be at Bashaw.
The fourth program is the Cow Camp for young kids up to age nine.
The fifth program is perhaps the most exciting, with all the champions in all the junior programs competing for what is called “The Ultimate Supreme.”
“All of the major cattle in all of the shows will be in the ring and they will choose a UFA Youth Supreme Quest,” said Northey of the busy week.
She added that there is a strong peer network that is developed when kids converge on Bashaw, something she is proud of.
The programs have been running since 1976 in Bashaw.
Cow Camp programs
Since 2003 the Cow Camp program has been running and it gives the younger kids a chance to be part of the experience.
Organizers Cecilie and Ricki Fleming work together to ensure there is something for all the kids to do. It’s a structured program that includes crafts, but even more importantly, farm safety tips and beef education, explained Cecilie.
She pointed out there are two mentors who were in the Cow Camp when it first started that are now helping kids during the busy week.
The camp has grown dramatically; when it first started there were 10 kids; this year there were 53.
Ricki said it’s a great way to give kids something to do but she also provides some of the older kids (ages seven to nine) with important farm tips.
Last year included farm safety tips related to injections. “We talked about the proper way to inject cattle and the proper way to dispose of needles,” said Ricki.
Kids even practiced injecting oranges.
This year, Ricki said kids had a chance to learn about the calving process. A demonstration “cow” was provided by the University of Calgary’s veterinary medicine program.
“The kids got to pull the calves out,” she said.
“Alot of these kids are helping their moms and dads and we need to set them up as they’re getting older,” said Ricki of the reasons behind the camp.
“Kids at that age are like sponges.”
One parent, Kasy Baehr, had nothing but positive things to say about the camp. She has three kids, one who is involved in the junior program and two who were in the camp.
“They (organizers) always have new ideas,” said Baehr, which adds to the excitement for kids.
“It’s nice to get them involved,” she added.
