Graham County teen, steer win big at fair
Fletcher – In her first year competing, a Robbinsville Middle School student won big at the N.C. Mountain State Fair, held in Fletcher last month.
Pacey Bradshaw, 14, received first place in showmanship in the dairy steer competition at the fair. Bradshaw – who is an eighth grader at Robbinsville Middle School – participated in the dairy steer competition, showing a Holstein steer named “Diesel,” twhich she raised from a calf.
Bradshaw – along with four members – raised dairy steers as part of the Western North Carolina Dairy Steer Project.
“It’s an experience, especially because it was my first year and I didn’t know what to do,” Bradshaw said. “I got everything on YouTube.”
She said the ubiquitous video-sharing website was a valuable tool to help her learn how to properly take care of and show her steer.
She further explained the process of raising Diesel for the fair.
“You get it about 24 hours old and you’ve got to bottle feed it in the morning around like 5, and then late at night,” Bradshaw said. “You’ve got to halter-break it and work with it.”
Participants in the 4-H dairy steer project were given all the tools necessary to raise their animals and were required to participate in two workdays, with the steers being dehorned, vaccinated and castrated. Participants also learned grooming and showing techniques.
The participants were required to show their animals in two fairs, but were reduced to one after the Haywood County Fair was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Although Bradshaw has shown horses in the past, but became interested in the dairy steer program after her friends, Abby and Lily Lancaster participated last year.
“I got really interested in it, and I saw it this year and tried it out,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw said learning Diesel’s personality was among the most fun parts of participating in the project. She also said she enjoys making new friends in the program region-wide.
“He was really sweet,” Bradshaw said of Diesel. “He liked to lay down sometimes, and then run and play. He was like a big dog.”
She said that she was scared prior to showing her steer at the fair.
“I said, ‘We’re going to get out here and try our best,’ and he cooperated good,” Bradshaw said.
During the show, Bradshaw had to follow the judge’s instructions and set her steer up correctly.
“This was my first year, so I didn’t even know,” Bradshaw said. “I didn’t think I was going to get first place.”
Bradshaw said she was going to continue competing in cattle shows, with plans to acquire a Hereford steer for next year.
She offered her take on the differences between showing cattle and horses, which she had gained some experience in working with Annette Ensley at Double 00 Farm in Graham County.
“Some cows are more calmed down than a bunch of horses,” Bradshaw said. “They’re all proud of me and hopefully, I’ll do it again next year.”
Pacey’s mother, Tiffiney Bradshaw, said Diesel was the family’s first cow, although they kept other livestock.
“We have like a little hobby farm,” Tiffiney said. “We’ve got rabbits, ducks and chickens. We’ve got goats and a donkey and she’s fixing to get a horse. We’ve got blue heeler dogs and stuff, but nothing big.
“I’m just blown away. I’m tickled to death. She’s always had a passion for farm animals and it just tickles me to death that she got to do something that she’s dreamed of doing.”
In addition to Pacey, other Graham County dairy steer program participants were also noted for their work. Abby Lancaster came in fourth place in showmanship. In individual weight classes, Bradshaw and Abby Lancaster both placed second, while Lily Lancaster and Klancy Stevens placed third and fourth, respectively.
The showmanship competition is based on the participant’s showmanship skills. In showmanship, the animal itself its not judged. However, in the weight category, the steers are judged based on breed characteristics.