The annual Lloydminster 4-H Expo brings together more than 250 youth to showcase agricultural projects, celebrating a year of hard work and family tradition.
Read more: GALLERY: New projects on full display at Lloydminster 4-H Expo
While the three-day event, hosted at the Lloydminster Exhibition, features a packed schedule of competitions ranging from light horses and archery to the final sales of market lambs and fed calves, the true heart of the expo lies in the hands-on experiences of its young participants.
For cousins Kenzie Kuzyk and Teagan Dow, both 14 and members of the Lone Rock 4-H Club, the expo represents a long-standing family commitment. Now in their ninth year with the organization, both grew up on farms surrounded by family members who participated before them.
“Lots of work goes into them. You gotta be cautious with them, too, so you don’t get hurt,” Dow said of the effort required to prepare livestock for the show ring.
Despite the labor, Kuzyk noted her favourite part of the experience is “getting to pick the animal and making a bond with them.”
Kuzyk brought her animal, Winston, to the Lloyd Ex, while Dow cared for a steer named Maverick. For Dow, the massive regional show offers something a traditional achievement day cannot.
“It’s like a different experience than our achievement day,” Dow said, highlighting the scale and excitement of the weekend.
The event also serves as a critical learning ground for younger members navigating the steep learning curves of handling heavy livestock.
Ten-year-old Jayla Rowswell and nine-year-old Everleigh MacDonald, both members of the Cut Knife 4-H Club, spent their weekend showcasing beef projects.
Taylor Weaver – Meridian Source
Rowswell, who has been in 4-H for five years, transitioned through multiple projects — including light horse, arts and crafts and archery — before taking on a beef project this year with her steer, Earl. She admitted that the hardest part of the year was halter-breaking her steer, though the bond she formed made it rewarding.
“My favourite part would most likely be this week,” Rowswell shared. “I would go down, put Earl in the chute and I would sit on him.”
MacDonald, now in her second year of the beef project, followed her brother and parents into the 4-H program. She emphasized that working with large animals, such as her steer, Connor, quickly teaches youth crucial safety lessons, such as making sure “that you’re walking in front of the steers and not behind.”
Beyond the life lessons in livestock safety and financial responsibility, the participants agree that the social connections are what make the expo unforgettable.
“It’s a fun way to make new friends, and also, you get to learn new stuff about different parts of the animals,” MacDonald said, encouraging other youth to join the program.
Read more: Alberta gives Lactalis Canada $1.7M dairy tax credit
