CARTHAGE, Mo. — No matter the elements – summer days reaching over 100 degrees and two nights of thunderstorms – families from across the area showcased their year’s worth of hard work at the 67th Annual Jasper County Youth Fair July 11-15.
This year there were 1,071 exhibits ranging in size from bunnies to full-grown steers as well as numerous non-animal exhibits such as photography and quilts. Most of the youth have shown their work in 4-H and FFA since they were 8 or 9 years old. Such is the case for the Massey family out of Carl Junction.
It was a stellar year as siblings, Myles, 15, and Marlee, 12, took home top prizes in their events. Myles made the CJ FFA Chapter proud when he won Grand Champion Steer with Reggie, and Fifth Overall Heifer with Roxy. Little sister Marlee, representing Spring River 4-H Club, won Grand Champion with Michael Jordan, the light-faced sheep; and Reserve with another sheep named Larry Legend. Their banners were proudly hung over their stalls for the rest of the fair week.
“We always tell them that banners are not won at the show, but won because they put in a tremendous amount of work before they ever arrive at the fair,” said Kate Massey, proud fair mom. “Their dad [Brian] and I are just so proud. We just love watching them do what they love to do, and achieve things greater than we ever did. It’s just an amazing feeling to have it all come together for both of them at the same time, and to be surrounded by their family, friends, teachers and supporters. I know it’s a year none of us will ever forget.”
When an animal earns top honors, it represents years of dedication and hard work of that farm family. It yields more money, which is oftentimes re-invested into next year’s stock or set aside in savings.
“Some kids pay for college or a new car with those higher amounts,” Myles said. “The better your steer does the more money you get and I’ve always turned it around into next year’s calf. This is my first year winning Grand Champ, and it’s really great that Marlee did well too.”
Sharing the excitement, Marlee said the wins were worth the heat and crazy storms.
“That’s part of living in Missouri,” she said with a shrug at the fair. “Both of us winning was the best thing that could happen. Now we get to go cheer on Reggie.”
The award-winning steer went on to show again at the Gold Buckle Extravaganza at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, and won Reserve Champion.
Find more announcements from this year’s JCYF on the group’s FB page here.
