Beef: It’s a family thing

By Scott Halasz

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XENIA — Cole Hiser has the trophy, but it belongs to all of his family members.

That’s the attitude the 19-year-old Jamestown resident had after being named top overall beef showman at the Greene County Fair Thursday.

“They’re just the ones who made me how I am,” said Hiser, who won the senior class to qualify for the final drive. “All the work goes on behind the scenes. They took care of my calves while I was in school (at Iowa State University). If I win, the whole family wins.”

That explains why sister Hallie Hiser was running around the show ring snapping photos. And why brother Matthew Hiser was busy doing anything else that was necessary. Even parents John and Pam Hiser are part of the act.

“It’s a family bonding experience,” Cole Hiser said. “If you mess with one of us, you really do mess with us all. That’s what people don’t realize about us. They kind of put the calves in my hands because I like showing them.”

The Noah’s Ark 4-H member also had the champion Hereford and maintainer, making it a clean sweep of the events he entered. The three siblings are hoping to parlay their camaraderie and knowledge and abilities into running a cattle operation.

Logan Test was second in the senior class, followed by Sarah Harner in third. Those two were part of the final drive as previous class winners.

Simple math would tell you that Daniel Barron shouldn’t be able to handle cattle. Weighing 70 pounds on a good day, the 10-year-old’s cow weighs nearly 1,000 pounds. Yet Barron and others his age were able to masterfully control their animals. Barron was first in the junior class of the beef showmanship and qualified for the final drive with the other winners.

In his second year as a member of Hometown Heroes 4-H, he also won his showmanship class with feeder calves.

“You just get them with they’re a feeder calf and they grow up with you,” he said. “(But) it’s really difficult when she acts up and everything. If she gets mad its because she’s getting warm. She is tired and hot.”

Barron’s twin brother, David finished second in the class, followed by Sydnee Hawkins.

Taylor Linebaugh, Devon Morris and Hunter Baldwin were the top three in the intermediate class.

Scott Halasz | Greene County News Gracie Oberschlake makes sure her animal stays still during beef showmanship judging.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/08/web1_DSC_3104.jpgScott Halasz | Greene County News Gracie Oberschlake makes sure her animal stays still during beef showmanship judging.

Sometimes animals are less than cooperative when moving around the ring.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/50/2016/08/web1_DSC_3115.jpgSometimes animals are less than cooperative when moving around the ring.

Contact Scott Halasz at 937-502-4507.