A long-time member of the University of Maine Cooperative Extension 4-H program for youth development won a national award for showing cattle.
At the National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colorado on Jan. 14, Lauren Pride and her heifer calf PFF Krew won Grand Champion Percentage Aberdeen Female in the Junior Show. She also won Junior Calf Division Champion Percentage Aberdeen in the open show.
Pride is a decorated award-winner for cattle shows in Maine and beyond, but her recent championship is her most prestigious and impressive yet.
“Denver was always the biggest show that I could have gone to for my breed,” Pride says. “We got out there and we had such an amazing experience meeting new people and seeing different calibers of livestock.”
Pride lives in Limington and graduated from Bonny Eagle High School in June 2021. She has been involved with 4-H since she was 5 years old and comes from a 4-H family. Both of her two older brothers, Ben and Adam, were involved with 4-H, and her parents Troy and Kathleen met in 4-H and have served as volunteers.
Though Pride is currently in the 4-H beef and marketing programs, she has been involved with a number of other 4-H programs, including racing pigs, sheep, baby beef, market lambs and clothing and textiles. Pride has been the president of many 4-H clubs throughout her years in the group, and is currently the president of her Cumberland County 4-H club.
“It is exciting that Lauren’s hard work in 4-H has led her to have such amazing adventures. It is a testament to the 4-H volunteers and parents who helped prepare Lauren to succeed,” says Mitch Mason, UMaine Extension 4-H youth development educator in Cumberland County.
This year will be Pride’s last in 4-H, but she has participated virtually in the National 4-H Conference and still plans to participate in shows. Pride says that participating in 4-H unlocked her passion for agricultural communications, which she hopes to pursue in the future in her schooling and career.
“I could talk about my cows all day long,” Pride says. “Sale day was one of my favorite days — talking to everybody about my products, what you are buying and what goes into every part of it and just being really knowledgeable about the products.”
Source : UMaine