Journeys to the Top

Personal stories of how Claire Dorsey and Sophie Trainor each accomplished their 2022 IBA Points Show Program wins.

By Olivia Hoots

The World Needs More Barns

Many years ago, when the Dorsey family was out moving calves, an old show heifer turned and started moving toward their little five-year-old girl. Just at the right time her father was able to step in and protect her from any potential danger. Even in the arms of safety, wondering what could have happened made her petrified of cattle.

Today, you would never suspect that girl was Claire Dorsey, high school senior and 8th generation farmer, who earned the most points for the 2022 Illinois Beef Association Points Show Program. “Now you can’t keep her out of the barn,” says Beth Dorsey, Claire’s mom.

What changed for Claire was 2020. During that time of crisis, Claire dedicated more time to working on cattle in the barn. “That’s really where her passion ignited,” Beth says.

“I found a passion for showing cattle and, really, the dayto-day care,” Claire says.

Last year at Illinois Beef Expo, Claire won Grand Champion Heifer in Ring B, but just planned on going and doing her best. Yet, her heifer had what it took to take home the prize.

“I remember the judge was giving his speech and he had his back toward me, I kind of thought there was no way I was going to be in the top five at all,” Claire says. “As soon as he put the mic down, he started walking my way.”

For Claire, this was quite the emotional rollercoaster. By the time she exited the ring she was shaking with excitement as friends and family gathered around to give her the kind of hug all showmen and women covet.

It is always fun to see the extended family and the grandparents all show up to root and cheer all the kids on,” Brad says. “It turns into a family event.”

The same heifer won Reserve Grand Champion Junior Other Breeds at the 2022 North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville. She won her class 14 of the 16 times she was in the ring throughout the 2022 show season.

“Little me would be really stoked to see I’ve accomplished as much as I have been able to,” Claire says.

Some years, heifers are the perfect fit for success. One good thing for Claire and her 2022 heifer is the strong bond between them. “We’re just kind of a team that will work really well together,” Claire says. “It is really neat to step back and watch how far that heifer and I have come.”

The people around her played an even bigger role in that. “It is a really amazing experience whenever your whole team gets to celebrate a win you have been trying to achieve throughout the whole year,” Claire says.

The heifer is a Percentage Simmental known as JSUL DAT DEGA 1053J ET. Claire contributes much of her success to Garrett and Natalie Meisner who led her toward the heifer and were supportive throughout the whole show season.

Brad likes watching his kids be successful at what they do. He says you should always believe in your program and in your stock, and to make that your number one goal in the show industry.

Claire recalls memories made in the show barn with her family. She says her older brother, Drew, influenced her to grow in the skill of showing livestock, and her younger sister, Jemma, is already on her way there too. “We are always exchanging opinions about feed rations, or skincare,” Claire says.

Brad is grateful he gets to raise his kids in the livestock industry. “There’s a lot of lessons that are learned in the barn,” he says. “The old saying ‘the world needs more barns’ is the most true statement there is in the world.”

Beth is also confident about Claire’s future, especially for the next few years as a junior. “I think Claire will be successful because she has got a lot of heart and drive and passion,” she says.

Willing to Work for It

Knowing what you want will not get you what you want unless you are willing to work for it. At least that is the outlook of Sophie Trainor, top points exhibitor in the steer division for the IBA Points Show Program.

Sophie is a senior in high school with much involvement in extracurricular such as golf, 4-H, FFA and yearbook. Yet, her favorite activity is to show cattle and pigs. That is why her big goal for 2022 was to win the IBA Points Show Program in the steer division – and she did just that.

Growing up on a production grain and livestock operation that raises purebred Herefords means Sophie has always been interested in the industry, but her passion for it grew when she got her first show heifer during her freshman year of high school, then began to show steers the following year.

The Trainor family – Chuck and Ellen, and their kids Sydney, Chase and, of course, Sophie – had not paid much attention to the points show program until they noticed Sophie placed 12th last year. Once they found out how close they were their mindset transitioned.

Sophie and her sister were determined to win. They set out to accomplish just that, giving it everything they had.

“The whole summer we were hoping that I was somewhere in the top ten,” Sophie says. “But in my head I felt like I wanted number one, for sure.”

Her dad pitched in too, driving her anywhere in Illinois she wanted to go to increase her points standings. “We tried to hit as many IBA sanctioned points shows as we possibly could,” Sophie says.

Sophie and her steer at the Illinois State Fair

During the Illinois State Fair, Sophie recognized she was in the lead. Though a bit worried about keeping her points up, but decided to trust she could hold her standing, hoping her points at DuQuoin State Fair would also help.

Finally, she was able to see the final postings. “My mouth just dropped instantly,” she says. Immediately she called her sister to rejoice with her at the happy news.

Next, she dashed out the kitchen door to meet her dad at their shed. Showing him the results on her phone he responds, “you’re joking,” taking her in his arms for a hug.

So, how did she do it? “Always set goals for yourself. Once I set it as a goal, I was able to accomplish it,” Sophie says. Even so, Sophie admits she could not have done this on her own. She needed other people who believed she could accomplish the goal too, to help her get there. “I was not able to accomplish it by myself, but because of the support system that I have.”

For Sophie, this was an accomplishment she had worked for all summer, and even beyond that. She recognizes, however, that it was not just a personal win.

“It was a family win which made it even more special,” she says.

Sophie attributes her tight knit relationship with her siblings to their time in the barn. Showing cattle together has brought her and Sydney closer together. Today, even their brother, Chase, still chips in to help her, with Sydney now living in Oklahoma.

This accomplishment, along with her outlook on the cattle industry, and her family have given Sophie some perspective. “Do not take for granted the memories you make,” she says. “This is how my whole family and I have been able to make those memories we will keep for ever and ever.”

With that set of ideals embedded in her mind, Sophie is thinking of going into agriculture communications as a way of giving back to this industry she cherishes so much.

“As long as you put the work in, you will get there one way or another,” Sophie says. A mindset not just for the show ring, but for each of us.