from the day he was born to the day I walked him in the ring for our final show together . Never did I think we would go on to win the Champion banner . It was a really overwhelming , yet exciting accomplishment that I have always wanted but never thought I would achieve .”
Although Bryce has been showing under 4-H since 2014 , when he moved to Brownsboro High School in 2022 , he decided to show his Market Lambs under their FFA . He kept his Breeding Ewes under 4-H , so that he had participation under both organizations .
The judging part of the livestock show is Bryce ’ s favorite part as he says it allows him the opportunity to put everything he ’ s worked on over the past year in front of a judge and gives the chance to connect with exhibitors that he hasn ’ t seen in almost a year .
The hardest part of raising livestock he says is keeping them at their best health . He says that it is very hard sometimes to keep animals as healthy as they can be and in their perfect condition . He keeps a very close eye on everything all the time , because the animals can ’ t talk to him for him to know exactly how to help them . He remarks that “ there is no way of knowing what might happen to them next , whether it be an infection , parasite , or fungus that they might get from going to a show from another lamb .”
Bryce currently has two ewes that are ready to lamb any day now . He will evaluate those two to four babies and choose the one he feels is best to take to his last year of showing . He is excited for his senior year in 4-H / FFA and the Livestock Show . He says , “ I hope it all goes well , but for now I will continue the wait for my new babies and get hard at work as soon as they drop .”
14 | Greater Athens Magazine | May 2023