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Local 4-H clubs do well at show and sale

Rewards of the 4-H season were realized for area members at the 54th Annual Williams Lake and District 4-H Show and Sale
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Highland Valley 4-H members Colton Monical

Rewards of the 4-H season were realized for area members at the 54th Annual Williams Lake and District 4-H Show and Sale at the Williams Lake Stockyards, Aug. 17-22.

Some 200 young participants, who came from clubs reaching as far south as Clinton and north to Williams Lake and west to the Chilcotin.

Members began working on their projects last fall and the list of entries at the show included horse, beef, sheep, rabbit, dog, poultry, small engines, gardening and photography.

The show culminated in the naming of champions and reserve champions in each category and then there was a live auction of many of the projects.

On the local front, Wyatt Miles of Highland Valley 4-H was a big winner in the beef division with both the Grand Champion Heifer and Top Charolais Female along with first place in Beef Weight Class 1.

The Highland club also won an Honour Award for Highest Rally Participation by a Club.

The Canim Valley club was also in the ribbons with Laura Dewsbury's entry in the sheep division winning Reserve Champion Market Lamb and first place in Sheep Class 1 Weight Class.

Paige Archie won Grand Champion Ewe Lamb, while the Canim Valley club won both Group of Market Lambs and Group of Ewe Lambs.

Jolee Campbell won Best Groomed Sheep and second place in Sheep Class 1 Weight Class.

In Class 2 competition, Annie Issac had the first place sheep and Ainsley Dewsbury won second place.

Brett Archie was Reserve Champion in the Small Engines category.

While 4-H was once restricted to agricultural interests only, Jackie Halliday, key leader of Williams Lake District 4-H, says almost any interest can qualify now.

"Now, kids who aren't necessarily farm kids can still participate in 4-H and sell something at the auction."

Prior to the auction, she adds, participants sent out invitations to prospective buyers and that factored into the success of the event.

She says the value of being involved in 4-H reaches far beyond winning ribbons and fetching a good price at the auction.

"Most of the kids start out shy and then some go on to be Stampede Queens. It's amazing to see their transformation and accomplishments."

Participating in the show and sale is an important component, Halliday adds.

"The kids get to show their projects with other clubs outside of their own and measure themselves against new people and new judges. They really enjoy the social aspect, which is a big part of it, too."