125
My name is Kiptyn Felton, and I live on a small farm in Huntington, Indiana. For the past six years, I’ve dedicated myself to showing heifers-a journey that has taught me the value of hard work, patience, and perseverance. Each year has brought new lessons, new goals, and new challenges, but none quite like this past season. This year’s heifer came from Fitz Genetics in Oklahoma. From the moment she stepped off the trailer, we knew we had our work cut out for us. She had a ton of potential, but reaching it was going to take serious time and effort. Every day meant early mornings and late nights in the barn- feeding, rinsing, working hair, walking, and building trust. Day by day, we chipped away at the little things until she started to
come together. There were moments of doubt, plenty of frustration, and a whole lot of sweat, but we never let up. That made the win at the Indiana State Fair feel even more incredible. It wasn’t just about the banner or the title-it was a reward for months of grinding, for choosing to show up and give it everything, even when it was hard. It felt like a huge relief, and more than that, a moment of pride that I’ll never forget. What made it even more special was knowing how far our family has come. My parents didn’t grow up in the show industry. We didn’t inherit a big operation or a long line of showmen. But we’ve put our hearts and souls into this lifestyle, learning as we go, leaning on each other,
and giving it everything we have. To see all that work lead to a win on one of the biggest stages in this industy-there’s nothing quite like it. This journey has been about more than just showing cattle. It’s been about responsibility, resilience, and believing in something bigger than yourself. I’m proud of where I come from, proud of the people around me, and excited to keep growing in the industry I’ve come to love. I want to give a special thank you to Nick Fitzsimmons for giving me the opportunity to show this incredible heifer, and to Josh Elder for making the trip to Indiana to help dress her for the show. I’m also incredibly grateful to Mason Awald and his crew for all their help
dressing and preparing her throughout the entire year. Thank you to my grandparents for their constant support and encouragement, and to Judge Jenna & SL Craft for the honor of selecting our heifer – it truly meant the world. To my brothers, Kale and Koltyn, thank you for all the help during the late nights in the barn-I couldn’t have done it without you by my side. And lastly, my biggest and most heartfelt thank-you goes to my parents. They’re the ones who make all of this possible, hauling us kids across the country and giving us the chance to chase our dreams. Without them, none of this would ever happen. These are the moments that change people’s lives-and I’ll never take this one for granted. ●
S E P T / O
C T 20 25
ST
Powered by FlippingBook