MELFORT — This year’s Melfort Ag Society Regional 4-H Beef Show and Sale steer raised more than $24,000 for STARS.
Each year, a different participating club is chosen to raise the charity steer, and each time a charity is selected for the funds to go to. STARS provides air ambulance services.
The Gehlen family donated the charity steer this year on behalf of the Three Lakes 4-H Beef Club.
Scott Gehlen, father of the Gehlen family, said that it worked out well because they happened to have an extra steer this year.
The club called the steer different names that included “Blaze”, “The Charity Steer” and “Dozer”.
“It gets different names depending on how it’s acting,” Gehlen said, chuckling.
He said no special work was needed for raising the unique animal.
“We treated it the same as all our other steers I guess, maybe a little less training as far as leading and stuff because it’s really not being shown,” Gehlen said. “But we did train it just as we do most of our other steers.”
Terry Hunt, chairman of the 4-H beef regional committee, said the goal of the beef show is to teach more people about agriculture and the importance of beef.
“We always have the same type of classes, that’s the 4-H projects, yearly heifer, yearly steer, and the cow calf,” Hunt said. “So that always stays the same.”
Participating in the event this year were about 110 members and over 200 heads of cattle.
This event had two additional clubs in attendance through Kelvington and Carrot River, showing off about 25 of the animals.
Morwenna Sutter, co-leader of the Kelvington 4-H Beef Club, said they came to Melfort because their area no longer had a regional show.
“We wanted to bring the kids here to experience this size and caliber and to come here and have some fun,” Sutter said. “As 4-H members you learn to do by doing, and you learn to do by helping each other and working with other members—whether that is within own club or with others. It’s just a great experience for 4-Hers to come together.”
Sutter said coming from Kelvington to Melfort wasn’t without challenges.
“You’re moving your herd, your whole heard for some of these kids, up to Melfort. So it takes preparation just by getting the animals show ready and getting the feed and supplies to Melfort from where we’re at.”
Overall, Sutter said the team “for sure” intends to come back next year.
“We had a lot of smiles on the faces so I think we’ll be back next year.”
The Show and Sale took place from July 7 to 8 at the Melfort fairgrounds.
