Busy start to the year for ESC 4-H Club

By Fallyn Duque

Hello Oyen and surrounding communities.

Whoosh, have we ever had a busy couple of months. The start of the new year began on Jan. 7 when ESC held a meeting at the Canalta where we worked together on our record books. If I haven't mentioned before, our record books are part of the requirement to complete our project. In our record books we keep records of meeting minutes, events, our goals, and what we would like to work harder on in raising the best project we can. Most importantly, we track our feed, bedding and health expenses and the progress we are achieving with our projects.

Most of our record books are done on our own time. It is 100 per cent our responsibility to keep them up to date, but a few times a year we get together and help each other. The older kids mentor the younger ones like me, and the leaders and parents help by making sure the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed. As a 4-H club we are supported and always set up for success. “Learn to do by doing” is our motto. Record books can be scary, but they are definitely the foundation of raising quality, healthy animals and one day owning and operating a successful cattle operation.

Macy Lyster stands with her Charolais-cross show steer, Dodge, during the Crossroads Beef Expo held in Oyen in February. PHOTO BY SEVEN D MEDIA

All East Sounding Creek 4H members and judges on public speaking day. PHOTO BY NADINE RUDE

Leif Westerlund with his Hereford show heifer named Helen, with big brother Doug in the background for support. PHOTO BY LIZ WESTERLUND

Friday, Jan. 30 was the dreaded public speaking competition.

Public speaking is also a requirement that each member must complete. This requires us to prepare a speech between three and six minutes, depending on our age group, on a topic of our choice. It is encouraged that we speak about something we are familiar with and enjoy talking about. Our speeches can be informative, humorous or inspiring.

Easy peasy, you say. Then we have to present that speech in front of our entire club, their families and a panel of judges. Yikes! On top of that, the competition also includes an impromptu speech.

For the impromptu portion, we choose one of three topics pulled from a hat that we have never seen before. We get exactly one minute to prepare and then deliver a short speech in the same way as our prepared one. As much as we 4-Hers dread this day, the exercise is designed to push us out of our comfort zone and help us become confident speaking in front of others, which is a great life skill.

Each age group is judged for first through fourth place. Our winners were:

Seniors: Rhett Rude first, Dylan Woods second, Coleman Norris third and Logan Kiching fourth.

Intermediate: Ridge Foot first, Camrie Norris second, Sadie Rude third and Warren Westerlund fourth.

Junior: Reid Foot first, Cabrie Tye second, Fallyn Duque third and Colt Grover fourth.

Those who place first and second move on to the district competition. If they cannot attend, the third and fourth place finishers have the opportunity to advance.

At the district level, Dylan Wood placed second, Camrie Norris placed third and Cabrie Tye also placed third. Congratulations on an amazing accomplishment.

Beef Expo was held Feb. 14 and 15 at the Oyen Crossroads Centre. The event is organized by the Big Country Agricultural Society with support from sponsors and volunteers. It celebrates the beef industry and supports youth involvement in agriculture.

The weekend featured a pen show, youth cattle shows, a showmanship competition, a tradeshow and a brisket, wine and cheese mixer. The event also honoured the Ashley Good Memorial, continuing the legacy of caring for the animals that produce quality beef.

The event brought together producers, youth exhibitors and community members for a weekend focused on education, competition and connection within the cattle industry. Our 4-H club kids and their families dedicated two days to setting up, taking down and cleaning up for the event. Our club also hosted a table for the brisket tasting to promote our great-tasting 4-H beef.

Kids who attended from the ESC club included Rhett Rude, Brandt Lyster, Brianna Lyster, Macy Lyster, Keaton Lyster, Jensyn Duque, Fallyn Duque and the Westerlund kids, Emma, Doug, Warren and Lief.

Club results included Brianna Lyster winning first place and $75, and Jensyn Duque placing second in the heifer class for $60. Brandt and Brianna Lyster both entered the pen show competition with three heifers each. Brandt Lyster earned second place, winning $200 and a mineral lick tub donated by Boss Feeds – Ray Penner.

Beef Expo is a great opportunity to “bring our animals to town.” It gives us a chance to set a goal to get our projects quiet enough to show and provides excellent practice for our end-of-year 4-H Show and Sale.

Well done to the kids and their families for attending, and thank you to our community and agriculture supporters for putting on this event.

This month’s favourite beef recipe, provided by the Lyster family:

• 1 egg

• 14 oz canned tomatoes, broken up

• 1 cup rolled oats

• 1/4 cup chopped onion

• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• Salt and pepper

• 2 lbs ground beef

• 1/2 cup ketchup

• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar

• 1 tbsp prepared mustard

In a large bowl, beat the egg. Mix in the next seven ingredients. Pack into a 9 x 5 x 3-inch loaf pan.

Mix the ketchup with the sugar and mustard and spread on the loaf. Bake uncovered in a 350-degree oven for 1 to 1½ hours. Serves six to eight people.

Enjoy!

Is spring here yet?