Stepping far beyond her comfort zone led a young 4-H rancher to winning the first national cattle show she’s ever entered.
Mackenzie Skeels, 14, entered the Young Canadian Simmental Association National Classic in Okotoks July 15 to 18, and competed in showmanship, conformation, show team judging, marketing and the herdsman quiz.
“I wanted to try it out, I thought it’d be really fun. It was a really fun experience, even before the show,” said Skeels.
“I thought it was just a show. I didn’t know it was so much more,” she added. Skeels and brother Garren are members of the Bluffton 4-H Club.
Skeels and her Anchor D bred heifer, Kate, took home Grand Champion Purebred Female of the show while her bull café, Jedi, was named Reserve Champion Bull Calf. The other youths competing in the classic provided a surprise for Skeels and her family. “It was such a great environment. Those older kids just took Mackenzie and Garren (9) under their wings,” said their mother, Karen Skeels.
Thanks to the direction of the competitors Skeels learned how to judge and show cattle better.
“It was an experience for us. It was so great to see the kids help the kids. Sometimes you walk into situations and the groups stay groups and the outsider stays an outsider,” said Karen.
“If our cattle industry could work together like those kids did . . . We could move forward,” Karen added.
The classic hosted competitors from across Canada, with youths travelling from as far as Ontario, Quebec and Prince Edward Island; some of them even bringing their own cattle.
“It didn’t matter who won but it was fun to win,” said Skeels. “It was pretty exciting when I did win. I was pretty happy.”
Mackenzie Skeels:
First in marketing
Second in team judging
Third in Junior Class with heifer Angelica
Champion Purebred two-year-old cow/calf
Grand Champion Purebred Female
Reserve Champion Bull Calf
Reserve Champion Purebred Bull
Garren Skeels:
Fourth overall in showmanship
First in team grooming
Second in team judging
Second in herdsman
Third in the aggregate