Rewards are bigger than the challenges

Most of the Junior Livestock Show participants that were prepping their animals in the Roosevelt County Events Arena Wednesday morning seemed to agree on two aspects that come with the process of showing: The best part is getting to know the animals, and the most challenging part is training them.

Christian Martinez, 15, who is in his second year of showing goats, said he begins training them in April.

“It can be hard, because they are wild at first, and they will flip over onto their backs,” Martinez said.

Kaitlyn Kircher and Alyssa McAlister, both 13, agreed on the training being difficult.

“You have to have a lot of patience to train them,” Kircher said.

“They don’t like being trained to walk in the beginning,” added McAlister. “It’s a lot of work.”

What also seems to be tough is learning to let go of the animals.

“You get to know each animal, and you become so connected to them,” McAlister said.

link Staff Photo: Rae Arnett

Jocelyn Schaffner, left, and Savannah Kircher stand with a goat in preparation for the Junior Livestock Goat Show on Wednesday afternoon.

Kimberly Singleterry, 13, is in her first year of showing and said the pressure lies in having to do better than her competitors.

But for the participants, the rewards of the process outweigh the challenges.

Martinez said his favorite part is not having to go to school.

Kircher, who is showing two goats and four sheep this year, said she has a lot of fun spending time with the animals and her other friends and family that show.

“I love the opportunity of getting to know the animals and getting to do it (show) with my family,” she said.

Singleterry, who is showing two goats, agreed, saying she decided to participate because of the fun she saw her friends and fellow participants having.

Kircher and McAlister said they chose to show goats, because they like their personalities.

“I like getting to know each one, because they are all different,” McAlister said. “They will either be the type to lay around or jump around a lot; they can be calm or they can be crazy.”

McAlister is in her fifth year of showing and will be competing with one sheep and three goats this year.

“It’s rewarding, because it teaches you responsibility and character,” she said. “You also develop a lot of compassion and love for the animals.”