Best in show?
Young agriculturists seek recognition with livestock at fair

By Larry Meyer
Argus Observer
Thursday, July 30, 2009 10:39 AM PDT

Christina Rogers, Arock, having just arrived at about noon at the Malheur County Fairgrounds, gives her animal a cool bath at the wash rack near Girvin Hall, behind the livestock barns.

ONTARIO — During its 100-year run, a major portion of the Malheur County Fair revolved around youth showing livestock or produce.

Not much has changed.

Andrew Weber, Vale, is one of many young people exhibiting both livestock and produce at the 2009 edition of the Malheur  County Fair, and, after only 3 years in 4-H, he said he is doing quite well at the venture.

Livestock judging was in full-swing Wednesday. Judges were busy with the beef category, including best of breeding classes and best among all breeding classes for FFA and 4-H, as well as best herd for 4-H.

Market animals will be judged today.

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Judging begins as early as 8:30 a.m. and goes throughout the day.

Wednesday, Weber, 13, showed his Angus heifer, which was named champion heifer for the breed and reserve grand champion for all breeds. Wednesday was the first time he has shown a heifer.

“I live on a farm. I love animals,” he said.

Weber, though, is not new to the judging process.

“I did sheep before,” he said. He won a grand champion ribbon for his stock, he said.

Weber is a member of the Willowcreek Livestock Club, which has 14 members.

Weber caught the fair bug even before he was in 4-H, showing such animals as chickens, for which he also obtained a top award.

“Three years ago I brought my steer,” he said.

He received third place for carcass, he said, and, better yet, his steer sold for about $2,000, which made for a major addition to his college fund. He has sold more steers since then to boost that fund, he said.

Weber picks the animals he shows.

“I look at the butt, how long they are, how tall they are and look at their parents,” he said.

He picked the animals from a bunch his father, Terry Weber, rounded up. His heifer was 3 to 4 months old at the time.

Weber will be showing his steer today and said he hopes to be just as successful and maybe even equal his sister, who had the grand champion steer last year.

But Weber is not just about animals.

“I have some cherries, tomatoes, a cucumber, and apricots,” Weber, who has his own garden, said.

He said he is a serious gardener.

“I’ve won garden tools for first place,” he said.

Also, Weber said he just enjoys coming to the fair.

“I get to show what I’ve produced that year and see everybody,” he said.

When not working on his projects, Weber enjoys hanging out with friends.

Larry Meyer is a reporter for the Argus Observer. He can be contacted at LarryM@argusobserver.com