Burlington--Four Vermont 4-H teamsters competed in 4-H working steer shows this summer, gaining experience driving their teams as they earned blue, red or white ribbons.

The first show was July 17 at the Connecticut Valley Fair fairgrounds in Bradford. It took place in conjunction with the annual fair and also included a number of competitors from New Hampshire. Dan Fantoni, Grand Isle, served as judge. Highland Farm in Pomfret hosted the second show on Aug. 13, which was judged by Teresa Paige, North Haverhill, New Hampshire.

The 4-H'ers competed in three classes in either the Junior Division (ages 8-13) or Senior Division (ages 14-18). Ribbons were awarded on the Danish system according to the number of points scored by each individual in each event. Although exhibitors compete against others in their class in working steer competitions, they are scored individually on their performance in the show ring.

In fitting and showing the 4-H'ers were awarded points based on their knowledge of working steers, how well they handled and drove their team and the overall appearance and condition of their animals including proper fit of equipment. 

The cart class was a timed event where competitors were judged on how quickly they hitched their team to a two-wheeled cart and navigated an obstacle course. The stone boat pull, another timed event, involved using voice commands to get the working steer team to respond to pull a stone boat, a type of sled used to move heavy objects.

Amanda Ferris competed in the Senior Division in the second show, earning a perfect score in all three events to earn blue ribbons for each. The 18-year-old is from Braintree and a member of the Clever Clovers 4-H Club in Tunbridge.

Competing in the Junior Division were Charlotte Aiken, Tunbridge; Lily Larocque, Randolph Center; and Matt Whitney, Chelsea.

In the first show, Charlotte received white ribbons in each class. At the second show, she earned a blue for fitting and showmanship, a red for the cart class and a white for the stone boat pull. Charlotte belongs to the Clever Clovers 4-H Club.

Lily, a member of the Green Mountain Teamsters in Pomfret, earned a red ribbon for fitting and showmanship, and blues in the cart class and stone boat pull at the July 17 show. In the Aug. 13 show she won blue ribbons in fitting and showmanship, cart class and the stone boat pull.

Matt received a red in both the fitting and showmanship and cart class and a blue in the stone boat pull in the first show. He won all blue ribbons at the second show. Matt is a Green Mountain Teamsters member.

To learn more about the Vermont 4-H Working Steer Program, contact Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator, at (802) 651-8343, ext. 513, or wendy.sorrell@uvm.edu.