Best of class

STAFF WRITER

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Responsibility, relief, accomplishment and pride in overcoming anxiety came along with winning top prizes, according to contestants in the Roosevelt County Fair Breeding Beef and Market Steer shows.

Correspondent photo:

Ronnie Cain

Ryleigh Walters, 14, right, a Portales eighth-grader, poses with a judge, the fair queen and fair

sweetheart after winning the reserve grand

champion of the beef breeder class competition.

Class One Low Line, Class Two Shorthorn and Class Three Charlais were the categories shown during the Breeding Beef show Thursday evening.

First Year Feeder and Roosevelt County Bred were among the categories show during the Market Steer show which also happened Thursday evening.

Breeding Beef Reserve Grand Champion Ryleigh Walters, 14, said she felt “good” after winning.

“Every single day, we had to go around 8-ish (in the morning),” said Walters. “At first, we would start by rinsing them off (and put them in the) cool barn — keeps their fur nice and growing. You have to calm them down (and) talk to them.”

Walters said she would wash her animal three times a week and condition every Sunday.

Isaiah Parrish, 11, said he also had a busy schedule preparing for the beef show.

“I had to walk with her a lot, grow her, clean (and) dry her,” said Isaiah Parrish who won grand champion on Thursday evening.

Parrish’s father, Kyle, attests to the amount of work his son put forth over the summer.

“Every single day, morning to night, lots of time and dedication,” said Kyle Parrish. “He didn’t have no fun time.”

Isaiah Parrish said he was anxious to show for his first time.

“I took some deep breaths and I got used to it,” said Isaiah Parrish.

He added his family has been very supportive, receiving support from his grandfather and cousin.

“(There was) lots of time and dedication from everybody,” said Kyle Parrish. “Hard work pays off.”

Falyn Dixson, 17, won Champion County Bred Market Steer.

“It’s just so surreal right now,” said Dixson, who has been showing since the third grade. “You’re responsible for another set of lives. You have all this work to do and it teaches you to have a great work ethic. Putting in all the work, it teaches you that no matter what you worked for, it’s worth it.”

Amie Lovato, 11, took away the Champion First Year Feeder and first place in the Market Steer Class One category.

“I was so nervous going into the ring,” said Lovato, “and now I feel I’ve conquered.”

Lovato added she received support from her friends with the Cone family — among them Market Steer Class Two champion Kaly Cone — to take on what she considered a huge competition.

“It was tough,” said Lovato. “There were a lot of good steers. I congratulate everyone in my class.”

Market Steer Class Three Reserve Grand Champion Marshall Lindquist, 13, also acknowledged the tough competition.

“It was pretty hard,” said Lindquist who also said he felt “accomplished” after winning.

Lindquist said he hopes to show steer next year if he does not move to Lovington with the hopes that his twin brother will also show steer.

Kaia Quintana, 12, took home first in the Junior Showmanship contest for the second year in a row.

“(I’m) excited,” said Quintana. “Really, really excited. Every day we have to help with our steers. Set them up and keep their heads up really. Just working really hard — early in the morning (and) kind of late at night.”

Quintana said the excitement built for her with more competition added this year.

“It’s just, work hard,” she said.