Shenandoah County Living
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ENJOY! AUGUST 2015
Area youth ready for spotlight at county fair steers, seven dairy exhibitors with 21 cattle, 44 exhibitors with 72 marYoung livestock exhibitors and their ket lambs, 22 exhibitors with 41 families in Shenandoah have been market hogs and 63 exhibitors with gearing up for their big moment at 108 market goats. Participant numthe 98th Shenandoah County Fair’s bers have increased slightly for 4-H and FFA shows. steers and cattle but otherwise Registration for the livestock shows decreased since last year, something lists 35 beef exhibitors with 40 4-H extension agent Carol Nansel By Rachel Mahoney
LAUREN DERFLINGER Lauren Derflinger has competed in goat shows for seven years alongside - and against - her sister Kristin. This year, Kristin is off to Indiana Wesleyan University, and Lauren will be showing her goats Tonic and Rhapsody at the fair by herself.
“We connected through showing goats together,” she said. “But at the same time it feels good that I’ve beaten her before but I won’t have to compete against her anymore.” Although Lauren said she only raises the goats for about four months before the fair, she has a lot of pride for the animal when it wins and always looks forward to judge feedback so she can continue improving. “It’s the bond that really feels good when the goat wins,” she said. One doe, Cadence, was a miracle kid for the Derflingers. The only living triplet of her litter, she returned to her mother on Christmas after a week of struggling to survive and was accepted. The Derflingers have kept her to show and breed since then.
mostly attributes to the economy.
usually open shows that occur around January. New this year will be an optional team cattle fitting contest at 10 a.m. “It’s more of a beauty contest - I use that word lightly,” said Tracy Sept. 4, a day before the livestock Heishman, co-chair of the 4-H sale. Exhibitors will spruce up their sponsors and awards committee. animal for a panel of three judges to CONTINUES ON PAGE A3 give feedback for future competitions,
JESSE ZIRKLE Jesse Zirkle will be showing his breeding sheep Maxine, Millie and Minnie for the first time at the fair. He’s been part of the livestock judging team at 4-H for four years and first started showing at the Clarke County 4-H Volunteer Leader’s Association market lamb and goat show on July 4 of this year. Lauren Derflinger works with her market goat, Tonic, to prepare for the Shenandoah County Fair. Photo courtesy of Barbara Derflinger
would turn into dinner later on - the Derflingers have butchered some goats to eat themselves and she said she loves the flavor. “I get really attached, but I know there’s going to be other goats in other years,” she said. “It’s a mindset, I guess.” The family keeps about five does and one buck, along with however many kids they breed that year. Father Scott Derflinger wasn’t used to keeping the animals at first and loaned his support by building shelters for the goats. It was old hat for Barbara Derflinger, having grown up on a dairy farm. “It was pretty easy for me to start into it because I was very used to the farm experience,” she said.
Despite the attachment, Lauren started the Lauren will be showing Tonic and Rhapsody this year at the fair on Sept. 2. shows with the knowledge that the goats
“He’s kind of grown and learned … this is a kind of natural progression and he is loving it,” mother Kristi Zirkle said. She said Jesse shows breeding sheep - as opposed to market lambs like some of his friends - because he didn’t want to have to sell them at the end of the show.
Jesse Zirkle positions Minnie at the Rockbridge County Livestock Show on July 15. He will be showing Minnie with two other sheep at the Shenandoah County Fair on Aug. 31. Photo courtesy of Kristi Zirkle
She’s the only member of the family without any experience raising show animals. But between the 4-H staff and community formed by other exhibitors, she said she’s “You still get the same sense of pride by walking into the ring with your lamb and received support whenever she has a — most of the time — doing perfectly,” rookie question. he said. “It’s quite a family that they don’t feel its Now that he’s showing the sheep hands-on, such a competition … they can help you,” Jesse said that the knowledge he’s gained she said. “It’s made me regret that I waswill help him in stockmen’s contests. n’t in 4-H.” In the future, Jesse said he hopes to keep Jesse said his friends who started out a herd of show sheep, and he’s considered showing have also offered him plenty of selling lamb meat. help and advice along the way. The biggest shift for him between judging and Jesse’s younger sister Lizzi will show the showing was seeing the animal grow and family’s smallest sheep at the open class, and Jesse will be showing the remaining transition as opposed to viewing it as a three at the fair on Aug. 31. finished product.
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Kristin brought the goat-showing fever to the family seven years ago after working at the fair and falling in love with the animals’ vibrant personalities. Lauren said she enjoyed learning and showing with her sister for seven years but she’ll also enjoy the spotlight being on her for a while.
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