Kayla Frink laughs as she remembers her first time showing a lamb at the Weld County Fair Jr. Livestock Sale, because it taught her a valuable lesson.

“Strike was a champion suffix lamb, and he was my favorite,” Frink exclaimed. “At nine years old, I didn’t want to sell him, and if you make it to the grand champion drive, you must sell."

The grand drive is typically the last chance to show an animal before a sale and before it can receive a final ranking — grand champion or reserve.

"So, I didn’t show him that well, and I got to keep him," Frink explained. "But, throwing that very first show taught me that the grand drive is hard to get to, so I shouldn’t squander that opportunity."

And she didn’t. Following that first experience, she gained valuable insight into why her family raises show lambs, and she went on to show many of them at the Weld County Fair throughout her 10-year 4-H career, three of which claimed grand champion status and were sold at the Jr. Livestock Sale. Her love of showing lambs was born from her mother, who raised and showed sheep as a 4-H Club member. The tradition continued with Frink and her sisters, who have all shown grand champion lambs.

As is the case with many 4-H participants, Frink’s experience and the money earned from the sale helped her obtain a college degree. She attended Northeastern Junior College and Colorado State University. She majored in agriculture business and animal science — both of which have helped her grow her family’s agricultural production business. The decision to continue working in agriculture was a no-brainer after college. Since graduating in 2019, Frink has worked at her family’s club lamb operation, Frink Show Lambs. She helps raise lambs — currently, they have 120 — to sell to 4-H and FFA members to show at the Weld County Fair. It’s a full-circle career she prides herself on and one that allows her to aid the next generation of ag producers.

“I think the Weld County Fair Jr. Livestock Sale is so successful because your animal has to qualify for the sale,” Frink said. “You must have a high caliber animal to win, so it makes our sale very prestigious. It’s something you don’t find in many other county fairs across the United States.”

She may have always had a passion for agriculture, but Frink’s experience in the Weld County Fair and Jr. Livestock Sale deepened her understanding, love and appreciation for it by helping to instill characteristics and skills she can use today in the family business. Her choice to continue working alongside her family is not an uncommon one considering that 98% of farms nationwide are family owned, according to a 2022 report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The fact that Weld County is home to more than 70 Centennial Farms and Ranches further shows the significance of agricultural skills being passed down from generation to generation. The Weld County Fair, 4-H and Jr. Livestock Sale have likely played an early part in sharpening the skills of many Weld County farmers and ranchers.

“Programs like 4-H and FFA help set youth up for a successful career in ag,” said Michelle Langston, Weld County CSU Extension Office Technician. “They also teach valuable skills that will be needed throughout all stages of life, including public speaking, networking, proactiveness, and confidence.”

It’s no secret Weld County’s Jr. Livestock Sale is the prime sale in Colorado. Bringing in more than $5.7 million in the past four years, the sale is record-setting and allows youth in 4-H and FFA to market some of the highest quality meat in Colorado.

Having high-caliber animals only aids Weld County’s massive agriculture status. It’s an industry that brings in $2 billion annually to Weld County. And Frink is proud to be part of that legacy by actively breeding and raising sheep to market as well as helping the next generation of 4-H members prepare their lambs to show — instilling the same characteristics of confidence and hard work she started gaining at nine years old.

“Seeing the kids show our lambs and become grand champions like I was makes me proud to say I work in Weld County agriculture,” Frink said.

The Weld County Department of Human Services is active during every state legislative session, and this year saw the department take the lead to pass an interstate compact bill designed to provide greater stability for kids in foster care. Read more about the bill and its impact in the next edition of County Roots.