Fourteen-year-old Garrett Jewett may be one of the first Kalispell 4-Her’s to be selected to receive a calf through the Northern International Livestock Exposition Heifer Program.

Garrett’s calf has grown into a heifer named Abeline and is about a year and three months old.

“She was small when we got her about 400-some pounds,” his mother Tonya said.

She has grown considerably, has been bred and is pregnant. She is set to give birth in March 2017.

“We weighed her a couple weeks ago and she weighed about 1,180,” Tonya said.

On Friday, Garrett, his mother and father, Gordie, walked into their barn where Abeline is resting. Abeline is polled (hornless) Hereford, a breed known for it’s high fertility rate, docility and adaptability to different climates Garrett said. To show her docility, Garrett cups Abeline’s muzzle and rubs her forehead. Raising her head, Abeline nudges his hand in delight.

“She loves people,” Garrett said.

Abeline is not his only livestock project. Adeline’s barn mate, a Maine-Anjou steer named Dallas, is also resting. A breeze blows through the barn. Fans run nosily overhead, keeping the heifer and market steer comfortable while outside the bar, the sunny afternoon air heats up. Both Abeline and Dallas will be shown Tuesday at the Northwest Montana Fair.

Abeline is as ready as she will ever be to impress the judges. When Abeline’s glossy auburn coat catches the light just right — it shines.

Garrett has spent hours working with her. She is bathed and brushed daily. Garrett maintains detailed records of Abeline’s care, which he is compiling in a scrapbook to show judges.

The purpose of the heifer program is to help young 4-H and FFA members ages 12 to 16 start their own cattle herd. Members of the program are responsible for raising a heifer calf, breeding it, keeping records and exhibiting it at the NILE Stock Show in October.

“There’s monthly feed reports and questions you have to fill out every month,” Garrett said.

The application process was quite involved to be considered for the heifer program, which isn’t limited to Montana. Only about 20 to 25 candidates are selected to participate each year.

To apply, Garrett had to submit reference letters and a video introducing himself, giving a tour of his facilities, outlining goals for his heifer and sharing his current 4-H projects. Heifer program members are selected based on merit, commitment and ability to care for the animal.

Ranches from Montana and Wyoming sponsor heifer calves for participants to raise.

“I got mine from the Sidwell Ranch in Columbus, Montana. I got to pick her out,” Garrett said.

Tonya said the heifer program trains participants along the way.

“The NILE doesn’t just give them a calf and walk away,” Tonya said. “One thing is he has to work with his breeder. Every month they’re on the phone talking. And through NILE actually they’ve done conference calls with these kids and they’ve done a breeding conference call because they had to artificially inseminate and they’ve done disease conference calls — so they’re training the kids along the way with what to expect.”

Gordie added, “They’re training kids to be producers that’s the whole goal of this. It’s a great program.”

Garrett is in his sixth year as a 4-H member. And like many 4-Hers, membership runs in the family. His brother Dillon, 11, is also a 4-H member and his parents were as children.

“I was a horse lover I just loved having horses and I wanted to show horses and that was my step in,” Tonya said about going into 4-H. “And the market animals was a great way to raise money for college and things. I had pigs and then steers eventually like Garrett.”

Right now, Garrett co-owns Abeline with NILE. Once he successfully completes all the program requirements and shows Abeline at the stock show in October, NILE will sign complete ownership to Garrett — a day he is looking forward to.

“After that she’s totally mine,” he said.

His goal down the line is to own a ranch and raise show cattle. For now, he’s looking forward to showing his Abeline and Dallas where his sweat equity will pay off.

“I just like being in the ring and seeing all your hard work going into use,” Garrett said.

Gordie added, “It’s showing that success starts at home.”

For more information on the heifer program visit www.thenile.org.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.