For twin brothers Kyle and Eric Hamel, both 12, of Beatrice, working together is an important part of getting in the show ring.
The two were showing Holstein calves as part of Thursday’s 4-H/FFA Dairy Show at the Gage County Fair and Expo.
“We work a lot together,” Kyle Hamel said.
“When one of us is in the ring we’ll get animals for each other,” Eric Hamel said.
It’s the brothers’ second year showing dairy cattle at the fair.
“I just got tired of showing other stuff,” Eric Hamel said.
Kyle Hamel said they know a lot of people who show animals at the fair, which led them to start showing as well.
Eric Hamel said it’s also about the chance to work with animals and be a part of something with their friends.
“I enjoy working with animals,” Kyle Hamel said. “I love to come here with my friends to compete, and see how good everyone does.”
Upon exiting the show ring where he competed in the showmanship contest, Curtis Rickers, 18, of Wymore said he’s used to being in the ring.
“It’s fairly easy since I’ve been doing this for 10 years,” he said.
Rickers said it takes a lot of work throughout the year to tame the animal abd get ready to show at the fair, but showmanship comes down to other factors.
The keys, he said, are for those showing to keep their eyes on the judge, work to set up their animal properly, make sure the animal is clean when it enters the ring and be able to answer the questions the judge asks.
Justin Kyser, 16, of Beatrice, said he’s been participating in animal shows at the fair since he was 8 years old, and enjoys the experience.
“It’s good. I get to meet a lot of people and hang with my friends,” he said.
Kyser said it takes a lot of hard work to take an animal to the fair, and there are certain traits to look for in a good dairy animal.
“It has to be strong through the body,” he said. “You don’t want a fat dairy cow.”