Official Kids Mag

also too old for the upcoming fair, so this year she'll show another livestock animal, her show steer, Storm. "Aggie is definitely the sweet one," the girls agreed. "She's the one that likes to come up and let you pet all over her. Collette, at the beginning was a little harder to love." Maegan explained that Collette had horns until they were surgically removed, "and she knew how to use them. As she's gotten a little older she has settled down and isn't as mean." The sisters are very involved in 4-H Club and have been since before they were five. Kenleigh likes being in 4-H she gets to show her animals. "I also get to volunteer in my community with my 4-H friends and help our community." For Kalleigh, 4-H is important "because of all the skills I'm learning. 4-H provides many life lessons. It has taught me a lot about problem solving, planning, keeping records and setting goals." These are only a few of the life skills taught through 4-H. Because of COVID-19, the monthly 4-H meetings are held through Zoom. And while it's not the same as meeting in person, which they will do again once it's safe, Maegan noted several benefits from the virtual meetings. The group and adult leader "have taken this chance to work on even more life skills and have had to learn to work as a team even more." The youth leaders have learned "to lead through an online platform—to take turns and not talk over each other." At the December meeting, the club decided to use some of the funds they had raised to help those in need. They sent sweets to the Covid Unit Nurses at Washington Regional and brought Christmas presents for a couple of children. Besides cattle, the Shreve family raises goats and pigs on their farm, and both Kenleigh and Kalleigh have shown those animals at the fair. Kenleigh won Swine Junior showmanship in 2019 at the Washington County Fair, and that allowed her to participate in the Round Robin Showmanship. "She had to be pushed outside her comfort zone a little bit and show pigs, goats, sheep, and cows for the Round Robin. She was really nervous to show the cow, but she pushed through and did it," Maegan explained. The girls have a white board in the barn where they write their goals down for the year. "My barn goal for this year is to win shows, make sale and beat my sister and my cousin Chloie," Kenleigh said with a smile. She also has a career goal, to be a teacher. Kalleigh, who wants to pursue a career in nursing someday, says her barn goals are "to win showmanship, win my class, make sale and be in the top three at the county fair." Learning new skills is important to her, like working on her cattle clipping skills—trimming and clipping excess hair and whiskers so the animal looks its best for showing. "There's always so much you can learn, especially in the show industry. I enjoy raising livestock because it's a family tradition. Raising and showing livestock has been in my family for generations. I also enjoy the friendships that are made through showing livestock. We get to meet new people from all over." Kenleigh also likes being part of the family tradition, especially "getting to spend time with my family and going on trips for shows together." They've been to shows at the county, district, and state levels in Arkansas, and Kenleigh was able to go to Denver, Colorado, for a national show last year. "The best part is the memories we're making." are you a kid hero, or do you know one? Let us know all about it! contact krice@officialkidsmag.com www.of f icialkidsmag.com • April 2021 • 45

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