Beef’s a winner at Prince William Fair

By Aileen Streng

Published: August 15, 2008

Kayla Harrover, 18, of Catlett heads off to college Monday, but not before she competed in one last beef show at the Prince William County Fair.

"She just has such a natural ability," said her grandmother, Judy Burke, as she watched from the bleachers inside the fair's show barn on Friday. "I've seen her lay down in the barn with the cows."

"[Competing] is a lot of fun," Kayla said. She's been doing so for the last five years.

While she has been riding horses and sometimes showing them, Kayla said she decided to try something

different.

"I'm drawn to the larger animals. Cows were something different and something new to do," she said.

She also got her 14-year-old twin brother and sister, Madeline and Matthew, interested in showing cows two years ago. Madeline, however, quit after her first year.

"It can be hard on them when it comes time for the cows to go to slaughter," Burke said.

"That was so hard," Madeline said of her cow, Big Mac, when it was sold. She has a young calf now and has decided to try again.

Kayla, Madeline and Matthew competed in the Senior Showmanship contest. Kayla faired the best out of her family.

She led her cow, Pumba, into and around the show barn at the direction of judge Todd Brown of Culpeper.

Brown was looking at the appearance of the animals as well as how well the teenagers showed their cows and knew them.

"She keeps [the cow's] head held high and when she walks it, she goes very slowly so it appears like the calf is gliding," Brown said, speaking of Kayla's

performance. She placed second in her class.

The Senior Showmanship Champion title, however, went to Nathan Butler, 16, of Midland.

"He did an outstanding job," Brown said. "He knows that heifer."

Nathan summed up the reason why he shows quite simply. "I just love it," Nathan said.

Brown congratulated all the exhibitors. "All you all did a great job," he said, adding how much fun he had judging them.

"In some cases, they've worked with their animal for years," Brown said. "A lot of effort goes into this and it all comes down to this one day."

"We do this for the kids," said Lisa Smith, superintendent of the beef show. "We're just trying to keep this tradition going."

Kayla said she wants to be a large-animal veterinarian. She is just about all packed and ready to head to Ferrum College to begin her studies—except for one thing.

"I wish I could bring them with me too," she said, pointing to the cows.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.