Ponoka’s three 4-H clubs celebrated the centennial landmark with a friendly, joint show and sale filled with enough pride and sentiment to carry on the organizations strong history.
“It does carry a lot of significance, It’s just hard to believe a foundation or organization that’s been around for 100 years,” said Laverne Holt-Klimec, a member of the beef committee.
This year Ponoka’s three clubs — West Ponoka, East Ponoka and Central Ponoka — didn’t compete against each other for best stall. They did however run interclub classes to show off the hard work and efforts of each member. “The kids at 4-H, they work so hard and they come together. They end up having fun,” said Holt-Klimec.
Because the clubs came together as they did the market steer classes were judged in a new fashion this year; the animals were separated by weight rather than by than club boundaries.
Holt-Klimec says the new system allowed similar steers to be kept together and the animals could be judged at club level and in interclub. She feels two sets of eyes gives each youth and their animal a second chance.
This year’s grand champion steer was only third at club level but won first overall.
Holt-Klimec felt each animal was commendable in its own right. “You can tell the kids worked hard this year because we had a higher number of steers right finished by the sale.”
The price of steers was also up this year, but the number of calf entries was down.
Holt-Klimec says the buyer turnout was good. “4-H needs them, we need the buyers to be there.
Simon Stalder sold the grand champion steer, weighing 1,373, to Dennis McCauley for $2.75/lb and Tyson Matejka sold the reserve grand champion weighing 1,375, sold to Integra Tire for $2.70/lb.
With sales up Holt-Klimec said the youths would be able to pocket small amounts of the money they made. “Most of them have it earmarked for education.”
To raise money for the Ponoka Food Bank the clubs’ fundraiser this year was Fuzzy the steer.
The clubs were close to selling out their raffle tickets for the steer, raising approximately $7,500, which Encana matches.
The last few years, and 2006, have been benchmark years for the clubs for fundraising. Holt-Klimec says more than $10,000 was raised each year for the charity of that year. “It’s always great when you get that much support.”