Every day begins when the sun barely announces itself at the edge of the plains. Fifteen year old Andy Klindt is feeding the livestock. He scoops the different feed to alleviate whatever deficiency the two cows and three sheep have and tosses it into their troughs. The animals relax in their pens in the barn basement with fans blowing into their faces.
To him, the Mississippi Valley Fair is the, “most important show.” Although it runs July 30 to Aug. 4, it demands year-round work. When it's this close to the show date, exercise and grooming become a pressing labor. He is in the field walking the cows or ushering the sheep on the treadmill every other day. For the sheep, Andy cleans, blow-dries, combs, and wraps their legs. The cows – the steer is named “Purdy” – are washed twice a day. Showing is Andy’s main activity for the summer.
Through the events, he wants to, “learn more about how to judge livestock.” So far, he says he has learned a lot through FFA and shows. At the shows the learning process is, “a lot of talking to people.”
With this knowledge he has bought animals at auctions. A lot of them are conducted online, but he and his father go and inspect the cows. He uses a keen eye, to identify animals with potential for showing.
In October, he borrowed a family friend's cement saw, then he cut a drain. This began the construction of a washroom for grooming the animals more efficiently. With the help of a more experienced welder, Andy welded a pen for the animals. He and his father, Dave Klindt, are installing air conditioning.
All the materials were gathered from the farm. The washroom is important as it creates a more efficient way of cleaning the animals. Washing them twice a day improves hair growth as well as keeping them clean. The quality of the coat is paramount in judging.
His father participated in the fair as well as a kid.
Participants are judged on two categories: animal quality and showmanship. In showmanship, they are graded on walking the animals, and calming them during inspections.
Andy presents with other high schoolers in the senior division and will show sheep and cows. Throughout the season, he participates in six to seven shows. At the end of the year, he will be presenting at the Aksarben in Nebraska.
