After months of dedication and hands-on experience, young members of the Portage and Oakville 4-H Beef Clubs are preparing for one of their biggest events of the year, the annual 4-H sale.
The sale takes place on July 4 at 2 p.m. at the Portage Ex fairgrounds, inside the 4-H barns. A complimentary beef-on-a-bun lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m. for buyers ahead of the auction.
Melissa Murray, co-head leader of the Portage 4-H Beef Club, says the event marks the culmination of nearly a year’s worth of effort from members working with their animals.
“These kids have worked this past nine months with their calves and they've put a lot of work into these projects,” Murray says.
Over 30 calves and more in the ring
This year’s auction includes 31 calves and five sheep from members in both the Portage and Oakville clubs.
Murray adds that buyers can simply show up on sale day and register at the sale desk, or reach out in advance to herself or Mitch Wood, leader of the Oakville club, to receive a sale letter.
Tradition with deep roots
4-H has a long history in the region, and for Murray’s family, the legacy runs deep.
“My daughter is 4th generation,” she notes.
Still, participation is slowly trending down, something Murray attributes to fewer family farms and changes in the cattle industry.
“There’s not as many family farms around anymore and cattle are slowly going, growing as well,” she remarks.
Building skills beyond the barn
Murray says the 4-H program teaches more than just animal care.
“There’s the responsibility of feeding your calf, training them, also just like community, talking to people, going out in the community and volunteering your time,” she continues.
Those who purchase animals at the sale can choose to take the meat or resell the animals through Gladstone Auction Mart at market value.
Murray mentions the sale is just one part of a full day at the fairgrounds that also includes achievement presentations and inter-club activities.
Meet Emily and her steer Murphy
Emily Murray, daughter of co-head leader Melissa Murray, is entering her ninth year in 4-H. This year, she's working with a Simmental cross steer named Murphy.
"Murphy is a Simmental cross steer who is long bodied and deep," she writes. "He is fed the full throttle ration from Master Feeds and good quality grass hay. I think his estimated finishing weight will be around 1,250 pounds."
Emily plans to put her sale earnings toward her future education. "I will be using the money I get from him to save to go to Lakeland College in Vermillion, Alberta," she notes.
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