me pick a steer out of their herd or I would find one at market price and then go to their farm everyday to work on my calf. I in turn would help put up hay, clean barns and grind feed. I really never had any intentions that I would win our county fair, I was just happy to still be able to show and decided I would set my sights on doing well in showmanship, which I did many times at county fair. While I was still in school I was asked by some other friends to show a purebred Chianina heifer named Connie from the Dale Werning family of South Dakota and traveled many miles with them and showing her in several different states. Upon graduation I entered nursing school and earned my RN degree but continued to work with youth and 4-H at my county fair. I helped on the beef committee and I would volunteer to judge record books. In 1990, I moved to Wiota, IA and joined the beef committee at the Cass County fair and became the first female to be on the committee. I remained on the committee until my oldest son was eligible to show. In 1992 I was asked to announce the 4-H beef shows at the Iowa State Fair and the rest of that is history as I am still doing what I love, but never dreamed I would become the voice of the Iowa State Fair!
I was a leader for my kids 4-H club for almost 15 years and served in different capacities as a leader. I would continue to help judge record books and volunteer at fair. All of my children were involved in FFA, something I knew of, but never had the opportunity to join as our school did not have an FFA program. In the early 2000’s our family began to host open Iowa Junior Beef Breed Cattle shows at our hometown Cass County fairgrounds and we are still currently holding this show – one of which is in memory of the kid’s grandpa- Wray McDermott. I try to help with anyone that wants to start having a show and share some of our successes as well as our failures. I never really feel like anything is a failure, but more of mistake that some are just bigger than others. I was always told that if you don’t make any mistakes how will you learn. Over the last 10 years I have also been helping on the committees for the Best in the Southwest Shootout, which I have now stepped down from, and the Best in the West Showdown that I am currently serving as Treasurer. These shows have given kids that maybe wouldn’t have considered going to state fair the opportunity, that if they won their county fair, another chance to show against other counties. Our showdown consist of 10 counties and then I
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