ESTEVAN -
Young people from five 4-H clubs in the southeast were part of this year's Estevan Rotary Regional 4-H Show and Sale, held from July 2-4 at the Estevan Exhibition grounds.
Achievement days were held for the Benson and Steelman 4-H clubs on Tuesday. Outram-Madigan and Browning clubs had their turn on Wednesday. Thursday's highlights included the regional show, awards presentations and the sale.
The Crossroads club also participated. Their achievement day was held previously.
Britt Fornwald of the Steelman 4-H Beef Club had this year's grand champion steer. It weighed in at 1,520 pounds, and it sold for $7 per pound to Mid-City Plumbing and Heating.
Braxton Shier, also from the Steelman Club, had the reserve champion steer. The 1,355-pound animal sold for $8 per pound to Prairie Dawg Sales.
A total of 59 steers were sold at this year's sale. District 1 4-H president Kirsten Fornwald said the average sale price was $5.36 per pound, which was up from last year, and she expressed her thanks to all of the buyers and bidders who showed their support for 4-H members.
"A huge shout out to the business community in Estevan and the surrounding area for always investing in and supporting these kids who sell their 4-H steers each year," said Fornwald.
The sale had a decline in prices in 2023, but this year's sale exceeded the organizers' expectations.
Prior to the start of the auction, Steelman 4-H club president Brenden Lischka announced the club's 12 members would donate 1.5 per cent of their auction proceeds to the campaign to bring an MRI scanner to St. Joseph's Hospital. The club vowed to match the amount.
Lischka noted the club was inspired by Jaycee Ross of the Outram-Madigan 4-H Beef Club, who sold his 4-H steer during the Energy City Ex. in June and raised more than $53,000 for the MRI fundraiser.
Kids from other clubs also donated proceeds from their steer sales to the MRI campaign.
Fornwald said all of the clubs do a good job of visiting businesses and inviting them to the sale. Public speaking and marketing themselves and their steers are all important parts of 4-H, and they gain skills they use throughout their lives.
"A big part of that is getting out and speaking to potential buyers and businesses, and inviting them to attend the sale and support the kids," said Fornwald.
The award recipients were:
- Grand champion British breed heifer: Rowyn Shier;
- Reserve champion British breed heifer: Lexus Zieglgansberger;
- Grand champion continental breed heifer: Montana Sernick;
- Reserve champion continental breed heifer: Britt Fornwald;
- Grand champion cross-breed heifer: Sierra Mantei;
- Reserve champion cross-breed heifer: Cooper Mantei;
- Grand champion female: Montana Sernick;
- Reserve champion female: Rowyn Shier;
- Champion yearling heifer: Montana Sernick;
- Reserve champion yearling heifer: Rowyn Shier;
- Best home-grown steer: Britt Fornwald;
- Team grooming: Steelman 4-H Club;
- Judging: Audree Jutras (cloverbud), Andrew Fleck (junior), Rowyn Shier (intermediate and high overall judging), Casie Brokenshire (senior) and Sophie Fleck (high individual judge oral reasons);
- Showmanship: Ava Mann (junior), Brenna Fornwald (intermediate and overall) and Casie Brokenshire (senior);
- Grand aggregate buckles: Rowyn Shier;
- Group of five steers: Steelman 4-H Club;
- 4-H Motto Award: Nevada Sernick; and
- Best-kept stalls: Benson 4-H Club.
All of the cloverbud members from the five clubs were also saluted.
Fornwald said the kids put in a lot of time into preparing their steers over the course of the season. They start their 4-H projects during the fall.
"It's a lot of work from having them halter-broken, feeding – which is obviously a daily thing – and just all of the preparation and time that goes into getting their steer to the point where they showcase them in Estevan at the beginning of July," said Fornwald.
"There's a lot that goes on behind the scenes, and when they come to town, that's … the easy part. The work that they put in and the time that they put in at home is where the majority of it is done for it to be as successful as it is for all of these kids."
Fornwald said the exhibition grounds and facilities were in beautiful shape for the clubs to use, and they were thankful for the association's support.
