How to say goodbye: Parental advice for children parting with project animals

By Peggy Coffeen, Agri-View
Jul 23, 2013
Jul 23, 2013

1 of 3

Marcus, Mitchell and Tyler Schroepfer are learning the circle of life with their market pigs and dairy steers. They have gained a better understanding for what happens after livestock leave the fairgrounds by participating in the carcass judging contest after the fair.

Youth exhibitors put months of hard work into their market animal projects, and sometimes saying good bye can be tough. Michelle and Ron Austin have made it a point to speak continually and openly with their sons Cade and Chance about the process and purpose of raising livestock for meat. The family is pictured here with Cade’s home-raised steer, Bugs, after winning the Rock County Fair last year.

Lila Kilsdonk and Aaron Kilsdonk reminds his daughter Lila that although she spends a lot of time working with her lambs, they are being raised for food, not for pets. She showed and sold two market lambs last year, Buster and Blake, at the Outagamie County Fair and the Northeast Wisconsin Livestock Show.

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

By Peggy Coffeen, Agri-View

After months of feeding, training and preparing, the culmination of a youth livestock exhibitor’s project is the county fair market animal sale.

kAmtI4:E6>6?E DFCC@F?5D E96 >@>6?E 2D E96 82G6= DEC:<6D @? E96 2F4E:@? 3=@4<[ 3FE E96 9:89 >2J 36 7@==@H65 3J 2 =@H 7@C D@>6 6I9:3:E@CD 2D E96J C62=:K6 E92E E96J H:== D@@? 36 A2CE:?8 H:E9 E96:C AC@;64E 2?:>2=] p 76H A2C6?ED D92C6 E96:C 6IA6C:6?46 2?5 @776C 25G:46 7@C 562=:?8 H:E9 E96 6>@E:@?D @7 D2=6 52J]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< E92E H6 ?665 E@ 36 4@8?:K2?E @7 E96 724E E92E E96C6 2C6 2 =@E @7 6>@E:@?D :? H@C<:?8 H:E9 2? 2?:>2= AC@;64E[” D2JD y@=J??6 $49C@6A76C] “(96? E96D6 2?:>2=D 2C6 3@C?[ E96J 2C6 AC656DE:?65 7@C @FC 7@@5 DJDE6>[ 2?5 E92E :D 2 92C5 4@?46AE 7@C <:5D E@ 8C2DA[ 2?5 6G6? D@>6 25F=ED]”k^Am

kAm$96 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 s2G6 92G6 E9C66 D@?D – |:E496==[ |2C4FD 2?5 %J=6C \ H9@ 2== D9@H A:8D 2?5 E96 @442D:@?2= 52:CJ DE66C 2E E96 {2?8=256 r@F?EJ u2:C] pD A2C6?ED[ :E 92D 366? E96:C A@=:4J E@ E2=< @A6?=J 2?5 C62=:DE:42==J 7C@> E96 368:??:?8 23@FE E96 AFCA@D6 @7 E96 =:G6DE@4< E96J C2:D6j 9@H6G6C[ E96 >@>6?E H96? C62=:EJ D6ED :? 42? DE:== 36 5:77:4F=E]k^Am

kAm$49C@6A76C C642==D |:E496==’D 7:CDE >2C<6E A:8 7:G6 J62CD 28@] “(6 E2=<65 E@ 9:> 23@FE :E[ 2?5 96 <?6H 9:D A:8 H2D 8@:?8 E@ >2C<6E[ 3FE :E 5:5?’E 9:E 9@>6 F?E:= E96 =2DE 52J @7 E96 72:C H96? 96 D2H E96 A2:?E DEC:A6 @? 9:D A:8 {F4J[” D96 D2JD] “xE DE:?8D[ ?@ 5@F3E[ 3642FD6 96 AFE 2 =@E @7 E:>6 2?5 677@CE :?E@ E92E 2?:>2=]”k^Am

kAm|:496==6 pFDE:? 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 #@? 2=D@ 92G6 6DE23=:D965 @A6? 4@?G6CD2E:@? 7C@> E96 368:??:?8 :? E96:C 9@FD69@=5] %96:C D@? r256 D@=5 9:D 7:CDE >2C<6E 2?:>2= =2DE J62C 2E E96 #@4< r@F?EJ u2:C[ 2 9@>6\C2:D65 DE66C ?2>65 qF8D E92E 2=D@ H2D 492>A:@? @7 E96 D9@H]k^Am

kAm“(6 E2=<65 23@FE E96 AC@46DD 4@?E:?F2==J \ E96 3FD:?6DD D:56 @7 C2:D:?8 =:G6DE@4< 2?5 E96 7@@5 492:?] (6 E2=<65 23@FE E96 724E E92E 9:D DE66C H@F=5 ?@E 36 4@>:?8 9@>6 7C@> E96 72:C[” D2JD pFDE:?] “w6 EC:65 ?@E E@ 86E 6>@E:@?2==J 2EE24965[ 3FE E92E H2D 62D:6C D2:5 E92? 5@?6]”k^Am

kAmpEE249>6?E :D D@>6E9:?8 E92E 92AA6?D ?2EFC2==J 2D J@FE9 DA6?5 E:>6 H:E9 E96:C 2?:>2=D[ 2?5 D96 C6>:?565 r256 E92E 766=:?8 2 =:EE=6 3:E D25 H2D @<2J] x? 724E[ pFDE:? 25>:ED E92E E96 7:?2= >@>6?ED H:E9 qF8D 6G6? DECF4< 2? 6>@E:@?2= ?6CG6 H:E9 96C] “w6 925 E62CD[ 2?5 x 5:5 E@@[” D96 D2JD]k^Am

kAm%96 $49C@6A76C 72>:=J 42? C6=2E6 E@ E9@D6 766=:?8D] ~?6 @7 E96:C E@F896DE >@>6?ED H2D A2CE:?8 H:E9 |2C4FD’D 7:CDE 52:CJ 3667 AC@;64E[ 2 w@=DE6:? DE66C ?2>65 w@FDE@?] s2G6 4@?76DD6D E92E 96[ E@@[ D965 2 E62C 2D 96 =@2565 E96 DE66C @?E@ E96 EC2:=6C 7@C E96 =2DE E:>6]k^Am

kAm(9:=6 =:G6DE@4< AC@;64E 2?:>2=D 42? 364@>6 BF:E6 7C:6?5=J 7C@> E96 4@?DE2?E 2EE6?E:@? 8:G6? E@ E96>[ :E :D :>A@CE2?E E@ <66A E96:C AFCA@D6 :? A6CDA64E:G6] p2C@? z:=D5F?< 92D :?DE:==65 :? 9:D 52F89E6C {:=2 E92E 96C >2C<6E =2>3D 2C6 C2:D65 7@C 7@@5[ ?@E A6ED]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< E92E :E :D @<2J E@ 86E 2EE24965 E@ 2? 2?:>2=[ 3FE E96J 2C6 FD65 7@C 7@@5[” 96 6IA=2:?D] “$@>6@?6 :D 8@:?8 E@ AFC492D6 J@FC =2>3 E92E J@F 8C6H 2?5 <?@H E92E J@F 4C62E65 2 BF2=:EJ 7@@5 AC@5F4E 7@C E96> E@ 4@?DF>6]”k^Am

kAm%96 7:CDE A2:C @7 =2>3D E92E {:=2 C2:D65 6?565 FA @? 96C @H? A=2E6] (9:=6 z:=D5F?< C6>6>36CD 96C 92G:?8 2 5:77:4F=E E:>6 H:E9 :E 2E 7:CDE[ D96 D@@? C62=:K65 E92E =2>3 E2DE65 G6CJ 8@@5 2?5 E@@< AC:56 :? E96 724E E92E :E H2D D@>6E9:?8 D96 925 C2:D65] {2DE J62C[ D96 D@=5 96C =2>3D qFDE6C 2?5 q=2<6 :? >2C<6E 2?:>2= D2=6D 2E E96 ~FE282>:6 r@F?EJ u2:C 2?5 }@CE962DE (:D4@?D:? {:G6DE@4< $9@H 2?5 A=2?D E@ D6== EH@ >@C6 282:? E9:D J62C]k^Am

kAmpE E:>6D[ E96 $49C@6A76CD 2=D@ 92G6 925 D@>6 6>@E:@?D 2E E96 5:??6C E23=6 H96? 2 9@>6\C2:D65 2?:>2= H2D D6CG65[ 3FE E96 3@JD 92G6 8C@H? E@ 36 AC@F5 @7 E96 >62E 7C@> E96:C @H? =:G6DE@4<]k^Am

kAm“(96? H6 86E @FE 2 A24<286 @7 A@C< 49@AD[ H6 <?@H E92E E96J 2C6 8@@5 BF2=:EJ 2?5 E2DE6 8@@5[” D96 D2JD] “x E9:?< E96 3@JD 92G6 4@>6 E@ 72G@C 92G:?8 @FC @H? >62E DFAA=J]”k^Am

kAm!2CE @7 E96 >2C<6E 2?:>2= 6IA6C:6?46 7@C E96 $49C@6A76C 3@JD 92D 366? F?56CDE2?5:?8 E96 92CG6DE:?8 AC@46DD] %96J A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 42C42DD ;F58:?8 4@?E6DE 7@==@H:?8 E96 72:C[ H9:49 2==@HD E96> E@ 7@==@H E96:C AC@;64E E9C@F89 E@ E96 7:?2= AC@5F4E] %9:D 2=D@ 92D 96=A65 E96> E@ =62C? 23@FE 9F>2?6 D=2F89E6C 2?5 2?DH6C E96 BF6DE:@?D @7 H92E 92AA6?D E@ E96:C 2?:>2=D @?46 E96J =62G6 E96 72:C]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
County school’s Easter parties created lasting memories
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Rail merger would hurt farmers
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
Divine intent of creation respected
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Social media talk burns my britches

kAm“x E9:?< :E 96=AD E92E E96J D66 E96 H9@=6 AC@46DD[” D2JD $49C@6A76C] “%96J D66 E96 42C42DD 92?8:?8[ 2?5 E96J <?@H E92E E96 2?:>2=D H6C6 92?5=65 9F>2?6=J]”k^Am

kAm%96 4:C4=6 @7 =:76 :D ;FDE @?6 @7 E96 >2?J =6DD@?D E92E E96D6 A2C6?ED 766= E96:C 49:=5C6? H:== E2<6 2H2J 7C@> E96 D9@H:?8 2?5 D6==:?8 E96:C =:G6DE@4< AC@;64ED]k^Am

kAm“{:=2 92D =62C?65 D@ >2?J E9:?8D 7C@> H@C<:?8 H:E9 96C =2>3D[” D2JD z:=D5@?<] “#6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[ 4@>A2DD:@?[ 4=62?=:?6DD 2?5 D2?:E2E:@? 2C6 2 76H E9:?8D D96 92D =62C?65 3J H@C<:?8 H:E9 96C =2>3D] $96 2=D@ 92D =62C?65 23@FE E96 7:?2?4:2= 2DA64E[ 2?5 D96 :D H@C<:?8 @? E96 4@>>F?:42E:@? 2?5 ?6EH@C<:?8 D<:==D E92E :E E2<6D E@ 7:?5 A@E6?E:2= 3FJ6CD]”k^Am

kAmpFDE:? 92D 6?;@J65 H2E49:?8 96C D@? =62C? 2?5 8C@H E9C@F89 9:D =:G6DE@4< AC@;64E]k^Am

kAm“x E9:?< 92D 2=C625J 8C@H? D@ >F49 :? E96 =:EE=6 3:E @7 E:>6 E92E 96 92D 366? :?G@=G65[” D96 ?@E6D] “w6 2=D@ :D =62C?:?8 23@FE H92E :E E2<6D E@ 86E 2? 2?:>2= 7C@> 2 76656C 42=7 E@ >2C<6E H6:89E[ 2D H6== 2D F?56CDE2?5:?8 @FC 4@H\42=7 @A6C2E:@?]”k^Am

kAmu@C >2?J 6I9:3:E@CD =:<6 r256[ AC@4665D 7C@> E96 D2=6 @7 >2C<6E 2?:>2=D 364@>6 E96 ?6DE 688 7@C 2 4@==686 7F?5[ AC@G:5:?8 E96> 2 =6DD@? :? 7:D42= C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ] %96D6 A2C6?ED 2=D@ 36=:6G6 E96 C6=2E:@?D9:AD E96:C 49:=5C6? 2C6 3F:=5:?8 H:E9 @E96CD ?@H H:== 36 E96 7@F?52E:@? 7@C =:76\=@?8 7C:6?5D]k^Am

kAm“x 9@A6 E92E `_ J62CD 5@H? E96 C@25[ E96 3@JD H:== 2AAC64:2E6 E96 492?46 E96J 925 E@ H@C< H:E9 @E96C >6>36CD E92E E96J 92G6 D@>6E9:?8 :? 4@>>@? H:E9[” 255D $49C@6A76C]k^Am

kAmu@C @E96C >@>D 2?5 525D AC6A2C:?8 E96:C 49:=5C6? E@ A2CE H:E9 2? 2?:>2= 27E6C E96 2F4E:@?[ E96D6 A2C6?ED C64@>>6?5 4@?DE2?E[ J6E 86?E=6[ C6>:?56CD @7 H92E :D E@ 4@>6]k^Am

kAm“%2=<:?8 23@FE E96 AC@46DD 4@?E:?F2==J 96=AD[” D2JD pFDE:?]k^Am

kAm$49C@6A76C 28C66D] “x E9:?< :E :D 36DE E@ A=2?E E96 D665D 2== 2=@?8[” D96 D2JD] “#6>6>36C[ H96? E9:D 2?:>2= =62G6D 7@C E96 72:C[ :E :D ?@E 4@>:?8 324<]”k^Am

kAmpFDE:? 2=D@ DF886DED 2==@EE:?8 2 =:EE=6 E:>6 7@C E96 49:=5 E@ D2J E96:C 72C6H6==D 367@C6 E96 2?:>2= =62G6D :E DE2== 7@C E96 =2DE E:>6]k^Am

kAm“p==@H E96> E:>6 E@ D2J 8@@5 3J6[” D96 D2JD] “{6E E96> 8:G6 E96:C 2?:>2= @?6 =2DE A2E @? E96 9625]” r@>>F?:42E:?8 H:E9 E96 >62E 2?:>2= 4@>>:EE66 2D E@ H96? >2C<6E 2?:>2=D H:== 36 =@2565 H:== 6?DFC6 E92E E96 49:=5 86ED E9:D @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C 4=@DFC6]k^Am

kAm“p?@E96C E9:?8 x H@F=5 9:89=J C64@>>6?5 :D ?@E E@ 92G6 2 <:5 =@25 E96:C 2?:>2= @? E96 EC2:=6C[” D96 255D[ ?@E:?8 E92E 6>@E:@?D >2J 364@>6 C62= 2E E92E >@>6?E] xE >2J 36 96=A7F= E@ A=2? E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2 7F? 24E:G:EJ 2H2J 7C@> E96 32C? 5FC:?8 E92E A6C:@5 @7 E:>6]k^Am

kAmr@>:?8 9@>6 E@ 2? 6>AEJ 32C? 2=D@ 42? 36 E@F89[ 3FE 92G:?8 @E96C 2?:>2=D 42? 96=A E@ D@7E6? E96 D:EF2E:@?] !6C92AD E96 6I9:3:E@C 92D 3C665:?8 DE@4< E92E C6EFC? 7C@> E96 72:C[ @C E96J 2=C625J 92G6 E96:C DE66C 42=7 7@C ?6IE J62C]k^Am

kAm“%96 >2C<6E 2?:>2=D 2C6 2 @?6 J62C AC@;64E[ 3FE J@F 86E E@ DE2CE @G6C 7C6D9 J62C 27E6C J62C[” $49C@6A76C D2JD]k^Am

kAms6DA:E6 2 76H E62CD 2?5 D25 8@@5\3J6D[ E96D6 J@FE9 6249 =@@< 7@CH2C5 E@ E96:C ?6IE AC@;64E 2?:>2=]k^Am

kAm“z:5D 2=H2JD 8@ 9@>6 D25[ 3FE E96C6 >FDE 36 D@>6E9:?8 E@ E96 AC@;64E E92E E96J 7:?5 C6H2C5:?8 3642FD6 E96C6 :D =:EE=6 EFC? @G6C[” $94C@6A76C ?@E6D] “xE :D D@>6E9:?8 E92E >2?J DE2CE H96? E96J 2C6 J@F?8 2?5 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3F:=5]”k^Am