County Fair Function: Stevens stays busy exhibiting, focuses on enjoyable – Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Paislee Stevens of Buffalo has been exhibiting livestock on the Johnson County Fair since she was eight years previous. 

The 16-year-old is at the moment gearing up for her eighth county truthful, making all the mandatory preparations to make sure her market steer is prepared for present day whereas balancing a busy schedule.

For Paislee, the very best half about exhibiting livestock is constructing neighborhood, studying in regards to the cattle business and having enjoyable.

“Showing has been so fun,” she says. “I’m blessed to be able to show cattle.”

Getting began

Paislee comes from a ranching background. Her grandfather Bill Long began the household ranch east of Buffalo, the place Paislee runs business Black Angus cattle alongside together with her mother and father Andy and Heidi Stevens. 

Her curiosity in exhibiting cattle blossomed by the Johnson County Cattlemen’s Supreme Cow Contest – a multi-phase program which permits 4-H and FFA youth to be taught in regards to the cattle cycle by exhibiting bred heifers, then exhibiting them as cow/calf pairs the next yr.

“Learning about the breeding process through the Supreme Cow contest and seeing everything come full circle has taught me so much,” Paislee says. “It’s a really good program.”

After successful an early part of the competition, Paislee had the chance to pick a registered Black Angus heifer donated by native seedstock producers Meg and Tyler Scales of ELK Angus in Buffalo. 

She has been exhibiting native livestock ever since, alternating between membership and business present calves together with a sequence of heifer and cow/calf initiatives.

Learning and rising 

Paislee says studying in regards to the intricacies of breeding registered cattle has been a spotlight of exhibiting cattle. 

From anticipated progeny variations and genetics to synthetic insemination, Paislee describes the training expertise as “fascinating.” 

“We run a commercial herd, so it’s very different,” she explains. 

Heidi says Paislee has had a number of “full circle moments” all through her exhibiting profession, and her high priorities have all the time been elevating a very good product whereas having enjoyable.

“Her goal has always been to have fun and to do the best she can,” Heidi says. “She knows the ribbon is not the ultimate goal – putting out a good product is.” 

Core neighborhood 

In addition to help from her household, Paislee expresses gratitude for the neighborhood she’s discovered by exhibiting cattle on the county truthful. 

“My favorite part about showing in Johnson County is the community,” Paislee says. “Everyone helps everyone.”

She has made a number of good pals all through the years, together with the Scales household, the Rives household and Hayden Geis.

Hayden has helped Paislee present her animals throughout years when she’s exhibited a number of cattle in the identical class, and this yr, she bought her market steer from Taylor Rives. 

Staying busy

In addition to exhibiting cattle, Paislee balances a busy schedule between serving as president of the Kountry Kids 4-H Club, serving to out on the household ranch, driving pens on the native sale barn, competing in native rodeos and {golfing} for Buffalo High School.

After promoting her steers every year, Paislee invests in additional cattle or high quality experiences like journey. Paislee says she likes to journey, and cash from her present steers have helped pay for a automobile and journeys to Greece and Ireland – well-deserved breaks between college and summer time present preparation.

She jokes she will get sufficient of a break within the wintertime to be able to do all of it once more the following yr.

Paislee used to indicate horses and static reveals like images and leatherwork, however as of late, she prioritizes livestock. 

In the previous, she has taken as many as eight animals to the truthful, however this yr, Paislee plans to focus her consideration on only one market steer and two cow/calf pairs.

Scaling down barely permits her to maintain her principal concentrate on what issues most – having enjoyable and doing her greatest.

“Showing is all about having fun, learning and enjoying the community,” Paislee emphasizes. “It’s not about the ribbon.”

Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send feedback on this text to roundup@wylr.web.