BACK BAY — Young people showed off the results of months of hard work raising animals during the Virginia Beach 4-H Livestock Club Show and Sale held on Friday, June 4, at the Creeds Ruritan Community Complex.
During the competition, members of the club aged nine to 19 got the opportunity to show the livestock they’ve trained before the animals were auctioned and sent to market.
It was 9-year-old Harper Williams’ first time showing livestock in 4-H. She said it was hard to show her lamb, Lizzy, to a crowd of people she didn’t know gathered in the Dick Cockrell Youth Arena in the complex. However, she really enjoyed the experience – and preparing for it.
“My favorite part was when I practiced with Lizzy because I got to spend time with her,” Williams said. “She’s crazy but … she’s always so sweet.”
Harper’s sister, 15-year-old Daisy Williams, said it was her seventh year participating in 4-H. Daisy Williams said she showed a lamb to help give her sister pointers for her first show.
“My family has been part of [4-H] for like a long time now, so I kind of just went down the family generation,” Daisy Williams said, adding that she likes “the opportunities it gives you and … the friends you make here.”
Dr. Scott Greiner, a professor at Virginia Tech and judge for the event, said 4-H livestock clubs are great ways to teach and raise young people.
“There are so many things they learn,” Greiner said. “It starts with responsibility, hard work, setting goals and working towards those goals.”
Anna Somerindyke, 17, said she loved winning in the show, but sending the animals away on the trailer is the hardest part of participating in 4-H.
“Saying goodbye is very hard,” Anna said. “But it’s just kind of a fact of life. It’s hard, but then you raise your next one and you like them.”
After the auction, Harper Williams said she was a little sad, but her sister shared that they knew they were doing a good thing.
“We gave them a good life,” Daisy Williams said, “a better life than they would’ve had somewhere else.”
2021 CHAMPIONS
SHOWMANSHIP
Hog
- Novice Grand: Conor Whalen
- Novice Reserve: Emily Dawley
- Intermediate Grand: Austin Cox
- Intermediate Reserve: Eli Schratwieser
- Senior Grand: Dawson Cox
- Senior Reserve: Grace Schratwieser
Steer
- Intermediate Grand: Sophie Shepherd
- Intermediate Reserve: Leah Gentry
- Senior Grand: Kolby Snow
- Senior Reserve: Brandon Grimstead
Lamb
- Novice Grand: Colleen Simpkins
- Novice Reserve: Emily Dawley
- Intermediate Grand: Selena Perez
- Intermediate Reserve: Jackson Shepherd
- Senior Grand: Grace Schratwieser
- Senior Reserve: Wyatt Schratwieser
Goat
- Novice Grand: Tripp Boyett
- Novice Reserve: Emily Dawley
- Junior Grand: Lucas Flanagan
- Junior Reserve: Emmie Irving
- Intermediate Grand: Kimberly Brickhouse
- Intermediate Reserve: Selena Perez
- Senior Grand: Anna Somerindyke
- Senior Reserve: Wyatt Lowe
Senior Showman
- Grace Schratwieser
MARKET
Hog
- Grand: Dawson Cox
- Reserve: Austin Cox
- Third Overall: Logan Rollins
Steer
- Grand: Kolby Snow
- Reserve: Logan Gentry
- Third Overall: Sophie Shepherd
Lambs
- Grand: Grace Schratwieser
- Reserve: Kolby Snow
- Third Overall: Selena Perez
Goat
- Grand: Selena Perez
- Reserve: Anna Somerindyke
- Third Overall: Kimberly Brickhouse
Does
- Grand: Wyatt Lowe
- Reserve: Anna Somerindyke
- Third Overall: Wyatt Schratwieser
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