Amherst County youth took part in the Central Virginia Livestock Show last week at the Lynchburg Livestock Market in Rustburg. The Livestock Show, held May 4 and May 5, fielded 76 exhibitors — children and teens from Amherst, Nelson, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell counties. The show featured 162 animals, 103 of which were sold at the market animal sale on Saturday.
Alyssa Elliott, Amherst County Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent, said of the 162 animals shown, 103 were sold at the market animal sale on Saturday. Elliott said 10 kids from Amherst County participated.
The Amherst-Nelson 4H Livestock Club, which includes Nelson County participants, had 17 participants, Elliot said.
Haylee Creamer, Amherst High School junior and president of Amherst-Nelson 4-H livestock program, showed four breeding animals — two simmental heifers and two gilts, which is a young female pig. She began caring for the animals in July last year, she said. This was Haylee‘s ninth year showing.
“You just want to be a better competitor than you were at the last show,” she said. “You have to spend every day working with them and feed them to get them ready.”
Haylee said she wants to be a veterinarian and plans to attend Virginia Tech.
“You definitely have to know basic aid and necessities to care for the animal,” she said about preparing to show at the livestock show.
Abi Arbogast, a fourth-grader at Amherst Elementary School, showed a breeding gilt and a heifer, which were the first animals she’s cared for between school, homework and softball practice. She said working with the animals has gotten easier with practice.