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Typically, Weld County Extension Director Hannah Swanbom can be found outside in a dusty horse arena, but on a mid-December day, Swanbom and Livestock Agent Larry Hooker are sitting behind a desk in an office above Greeley’s Island Grove Regional Park Exhibition Building. Thirty or so permission forms are laid out for each to sign as they confirm 4-H Club and FFA youth can show their animals at the National Western Stock Show (NWSS), occurring now through January 23.
This is one of the many ways the Extension Office helps Weld County kids be involved in agriculture.
“I’m so excited and humbled to send these youth to the NWSS where their skills in raising a production animal can be seen on a national stage,” Swanbom exclaimed. “It’s neat to see them go from showing at our local county fair to a bigger setting that will help them grow as leaders in this industry.”
Swanbom and Weld County Fair Coordinator, Jenette Masarie, understand the importance of supporting youth in this venture. Masarie is currently at the NWSS to help facilitate the “best 16 days in January” for local, state and national agriculture enthusiasts, as she’s done since interning while in college at Colorado State University.
While at the NWSS this year, Masarie is helping to prepare and run all of the Junior Market Shows, including market steers, swine, lambs and goats. She also judged the Catch-A-Calf Show, which took place yesterday. Through this program, more than 3,000 steers have been awarded to 4-H and FFA youth over an 80-year timespan at the NWSS. Kids come from all over Colorado and the neighboring states of Nebraska, Kansas and Wyoming to be tossed in a ring with a herd of calves to catch in order to have an animal to raise and show. Thanks to this program, a handful of calves are often brought back to Weld County and shown by kids at the Weld County Fair each July.
In return, NWSS staff come to Weld County in July to assist with the Weld County Fair.
NWSS Livestock Coordinator Clancy Anderson and Sponsorship Account Manager Clay Johnson travel to the Weld County Fair to help facilitate animal check-ins as well as various livestock shows. It’s a longstanding partnership that Anderson appreciates.
“We call it a ‘staff swap,’ and it’s very beneficial not only to the NWSS but to other agricultural events across the state that we partner with, including the Weld County Fair,” Anderson said. “I love coming to the fair to get my hands dirty and watch kids develop their agricultural and professional skills.”
These skills can be seen in 14-year-old Fort Lupton resident Caden Bangert who is gearing up to grab a calf by the tail, wrestle it and basically catch the animal by whatever means are necessary during the Catch-A-Calf Contest that occurs in the middle of the rodeos on January 14, 15 or 16.
“I am very excited to participate in this program,” said Bangert. “It’s super neat that I get the chance to win a calf to raise and have ready as a market animal this time next year.”
If Bangert catches a calf, he will come back to the NWSS next year to show the steer at the Catch-A-Calf Show. He’ll be judged on his showmanship of the animal, record book-keeping and a personal interview while his steer will also be evaluated for production and meat carcass quality.
Comprised of 2.5 million acres, 75% of which are devoted to agriculture, Weld County is ranked first in the state for beef, dairy, grain and sugar beet production. It’s easy to see how the youth in the county keep the agricultural way of life a vibrant part of the community — something that isn’t lost on NWSS or Weld County Fair staff.
“This is a great relationship to have, as many of our Weld County 4-H and FFA fair exhibitors also participate at the NWSS,” Masarie explained. “I learned so much from Anderson while interning at the NWSS and helping out each year. I’m excited to apply that knowledge to help grow and nurture the Weld County Fair with Anderson’s continued assistance.”
At the start of her morning today, Swanbom calls Masarie to check in and see how the Catch-A-Calf Show went yesterday. Masarie gushes about the local kids who showed calves and expresses her excitement toward the upcoming Catch-A-Calf Contests. They both end the call and go back to their duties, Swanbom overseeing the day-to-day activities of Extension agents in the office, and Masarie prepping for upcoming market livestock shows, and both feel pride in all that they help the kids of Weld County accomplish.
By Shaley Dehner, Weld County Communications Specialist
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