Part of the flock: Young fair competitors continue family tradition of showing sheep

TAYLOR INMAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 days, 15 hours AGO

Participants position their sheep for judging in the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Shelby Fant positions her sheep for judging in the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Judge Bill Disberger speaks with Ella Labrum during the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Paige Morrison flashes a smile after being awarded grand champion in the market sheep class of the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Judge Bill Disberger speaks to the participants during the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Judge Bill Disberger speaks with a participant during the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Emma Brist, right, and fellow participants line up their sheep for judging in the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Emma Brist speaks with judge Bill Disberger during the sheep showmanship competition inside the Trade Center at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo on Tuesday, Aug. 11. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)
Casey Kreider

Kaylee Whitten comforted her lamb Knoxlee before heading into the showmanship ring at Flathead County Fairgrounds Tuesday. It’s her second year showing as a member of FFA, but raising sheep runs in her blood.

“My grandpa raised lambs for 20-plus years and he's the one who got me into sheep,” she said. “I just wish he was here to watch.”

It’s emotional to talk about her late grandfather Terry Lee Suta — every sheep she raises has his namesake. This year Knoxlee and Kynlee were ready to jump into the ring and show off months of hard work.

But sheep aren’t always the easiest to work with.

“They’re unpredictable ... It just depends on your lamb, some lambs are really easy and cooperative and other ones aren't quite so cooperative,” the 16-year-old said.

Her father Mike Whitten said sheep are nothing new to his wife’s side of the family, but learning showmanship was a new endeavor. They all miss Suta, so Kaylee continuing her grandfather’s interest in sheep is great to see, he said.

Raising and showing sheep is a family tradition for many in the Flathead Valley. Montana is one of the leading sheep-producing states in the U.S., with much of the state being well suited for sheep production, according to Montana State University.

The legacy of raising sheep continues with the young 4-H and FFA members who compete every summer at the Northwest Montana Fair & Rodeo.

It’s 9-year-old Rory Sutton’s first year showing as a 4-H member. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but it’s made easier by relying on her big brother Nolan, who has shown sheep for a few summers.

Her sheep this year is named Ice T, after the famed rapper.

“The [hardest part] was getting him to walk by his head ... You just go in the ring without a halter and put your hands on their head to lead them,” she explained.

When competitors enter the ring, it's no time to be sheepish.

The goal is to demonstrate skill, control and knowledge of an animal. Most raise their lamb from birth, eventually working with them every day throughout the spring and summer to prep for market and showmanship judging at the fair.

Competitors hold their sheep by the head, elongating their stance and showing off the muscle on their hindquarters.

Morgan Sutton, Rory’s mother, said the 4-H livestock projects are a real family affair. Rory’s great-grandfather, grandfather, father and aunt are all part of the endeavor, raising and showing sheep for years.

She’s impressed with the leadership skills that 4-H imparts, particularly as the kids grow up and pass their knowledge onto the new, younger competitors.

“I've barely had to help her because her older brother goes out and teaches her how to weigh the feed, brush their legs and how to teach them to stand, lead and brace,” she said.

The project also involves some financial and math skills, as participants have to keep tabs on supplements and feed for their lambs and keep track of expenses.

Since it’s Rory’s first year showing, there is some sadness with learning how to let go of her sheep, which will be sold after market judging. However, Morgan Sutton said it’s an important lesson to learn where food comes from.

“Just learning to care for another animal ... to be going out and caring for them before you care for yourself. It's a big responsibility,” she said. “It's very sad for her that her lamb is going to be gone next week ... But I think it's an important aspect because it gives you a lot of respect for your food and what it means to eat another living life, you know?"

While there were many first-time competitors, others took the ring for the last time. 19-year-old Paige Morrison won first place in the Senior Sheep Showman class on Tuesday. It’s her 10th year participating in the livestock project and her final run, as she has already graduated from high school.

She’s a member of the Hilltop Riders 4-H and bred her own lambs, as well as other lambs that were sold to fellow competitors. Raising and selling lambs is something she plans to continue doing next year even though she can no longer compete.

Sheep are a family tradition for her too, she said.

“My great-grandpa, maybe before that — we've always been a sheep family. My dad came from a sheep family and my mom was a horse person. But she fell in love with sheep, due to me and my siblings [being involved.] So, it’s always been kind of a thing,” Morrison said.

Despite her years of experience, nerves always set in before showing her lamb. This year, she brought three sheep and two goats to the fair — one sheep heading to market and the other two as breeding projects.

“I definitely get like the stomach bug kind of feeling, like the butterflies and everything. But once I get in there, it kind of all goes away and I forget to breathe sometimes. But I try to stay relaxed,” Morrison said.

She’s thankful that local companies continue to support young people involved in 4-H and FFA.

“Ever since I was little, I put my money in my savings and I was able to buy my first car with that. I'm always learning new things, too. I feel like it switches up every single year,” Morrison said.

Reporter Taylor Inman can be reached at 406-758-4440 or [email protected]. If you value local journalism, pledge your support at dailyinterlake.com/support.