4-H beef show 'our sport' relative says
Jul. 22—ALEXANDRIA — Some kids play sports. Others show cattle at the Madison County 4-H Fair beef show.
Kase Clevenger is one of the latter. Clevenger is a 10-year member of 4-H, meaning this year is his last.
Add the fact that Clevenger took home top honors last year, and it may be easy to believe the stakes are high for him. But he and his family said that couldn't be further from the truth.
"We do this on more of a chill level," Clevenger's cousin, Braden, said before the fair's beef show began Monday. "Last year, he had very good luck. ... Some people do this at a very high, extreme level but we don't do that.
"It's our hangout. It's our basketball, it's our sport. My vacation time (from work) is spent doing this."
Braden noted that in addition to the fun Kase and his family have with 4-H activities, life lessons including consistent work ethic are among the most valuable takeaways they're gleaning from the experience.
Clevenger's mother, Jessica, said she's seen tremendous growth in her son's character.
"At 8, 9 and 10 (years old), it was a battle to get him into the barn," she said. "He was timid with these bigger animals.
"Now, he's doing it on his own. He gets up in the morning and he goes to feed them...he does it all."
Jacob Shuter said his nine years of 4-H have taught him to be kind to others, especially younger children.
Shuter said he started showing cattle at age 4 and hasn't looked back.
"My dad and I, we went to a show and I've been hooked on it ever since," he said.
Shuter plans to complete his 10th year of 4-H next year. However, others have run out of years.
Kase Clevenger was set to show his smoke steer, Dusty. He and his competitors would gather in the show arena to appear before spectators and at least one judge.
Dusty and other beef cattle were judged according to breeding characteristics and meat quality, if harvested, according to Danielle Nylund, a local 4-H extension educator.
Champion awards would be given according to breed. The champions were scheduled to compete for an overall award later in the day.
Another judging criteria was appearance, which meant competitors and their families were busy in a nearby barn washing, scrubbing and tending to their competing cattle early Monday afternoon.
Such care is given not only during the fair, but before. Many 4-H'ers and their families purchase the animals as calves and raise them over the course of a year, according to Braden.
Kase Clevenger reflected on his 4-H career, describing his impending departure as "bittersweet."
"I'm sad to see it go, but I'm excited to move on to the next chapter," he said.
Follow Caleb Amick on Twitter @AmickCaleb. Contact him at caleb.amick@heraldbulletin.com or 765-648-4254.