Youth with the local Ponoka District 4-H Beef clubs are gearing up to showcase their animals during the annual show and sale, set for May 6-7 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre.
The event is broken down into a female show which runs on May 6 at 7 p.m. and two steer shows on May 7 (9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.)
Bidding will be both in-person and online through Vold Jones and Vold.
“The show and sale is made up of the Ponoka East Club and the Ponoka West Club,” said Patrick Lentz, president of the Ponoka District 4-H Beef Committee.
“We’ve got 55 kids this year, and 69 animals with the female show as well.”
The youth did an initial weigh-in of their animals last October, and then for 211 days, they carefully prepare them for the show and sale.
Ultimately, awards are handed down within a range of categories, which recognize the youth for all of the hard work and dedication they have put in to prepare their animals for the event, said Lentz.
“It’s a pretty busy day. The kids have to get their animals prepped, washed, clipped, and groomed, and there is a lot of work that goes into it through the year, too,” he said.
“There are certain standards that are laid out within 4-H, and our groups as well. We are constantly checking in with them, and the kids also really support each other with it all, too.
“Another part of all of this is the community service the kids do through the year, too.”
This runs the gamut from taking part in a highway clean up to being involved with the annual festival of trees.
They also head to Rimoka and the hospital and do things like window painting.
Lentz said it’s amazing to see the connections that take place between the youth and the seniors.
As he pointed out, when it comes to their animals, the show and sale are just one part of what is a significant and multi-faceted commitment.
“Every 12 hours they have to feed those animals. They have to weigh their food. They have to front money, and there are a lot of things that they get taught around that, too.”
Another focus during the year with 4-H is on public speaking.
“As a business owner, you can tell a 4-H youth. I know those kids when they come in because they look you in the eye, they shake your hand — those kinds of things,” he explained
“These are the kids that you will recognize later in life within your community.”
As to the show and sale, Lentz said it also marks a superb opportunity for plenty of community connection.
“You will see a lot of business owners there with an opportunity to support these kids, and an opportunity to be recognized as a buyer within the community to support them,” said Lentz, who has been involved with the committee for five years now.
“They can also see firsthand what they are investing in. Yes, they get a lot of really good beef which is a bonus, but at the same time, they get to support the kids and their futures, too. It’s really a win-win.”
The 4-H show and sale has a long history in the Ponoka community, going back to the 1950s, he said.
For Lentz, the whole event is a rewarding venture to be a part of.
“There’s quite a bit of an emotional attachment with all of these kids. Just to see all of the efforts that they put in, it’s not just about a sale. You see all of their hard work pay off.
“It’s also the excitement around the community coming in and showing its support. If folks can pop in, the kids see that and it means a lot. We also welcome people to come back into the barns where the kids can showcase their animals, and talk about them.
“It’s really neat to see that interaction — come and check it out.”
For more information about the local clubs, and the latest updates, follow the local 4-H beef clubs on Facebook.