Campaigning Farm Show beef is Nissley family tradition
BY SALLY BAIR
Staff Correspondent
MOUNT JOY - For Derek and
Michelle Nissley, a trip to the
Farm Show each year has become
a family tradition. It is, in fact, a
continuation of a tradition begun
by their father, Marvin, when he
was a 4-H member in Lancaster
County. Now a leader, Marvin
encouraged his children to join 4-H
as soon as they were old enough to
enjoy the advantages he did as an
involved 4-H’er.
Michelle, 13, will be showing in
Harrisburg for the fourth time, and
admits that one reason she likes to
take her steer to the Farm Show is
that “I get to keep the steer longer.
It is very hard to give it up.” Those
4-H’ers who are not selected or who
choose not to go to Farm Show
must sell their 4-H animals after
the county and district shows in
November.
Derek, 11, is going for the third
year, and says, “I like to show. It is
more crowded at the Farm Show,
and I like showing there.” Since a
full-grown steer is somewhat
larger than Derek, a natural
question is, do his project animals
ever try to get away while he is
showing them? “They never tried
to get away,” he says.
Michelle points out, “Showing is
a payoff for hard work. I like
getting the steers ready to show,
although it is a chore to get them
ready now because it is so cold.”
Activity becomes more intense as
the show draws near. Derek says,
“It’s a daily thing for the last three
or four weeks.”
How do they feel their chances
are at the Farm Show? Derek
answers honestly, “It depends on
the judge. I don’t always agree
with the judge.”
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Michelle says, “I won’t do ex
tremely well, but I think I’ll place
pretty good. It depends on the
judge.” Mrs. Nissley interjects,
You leant not to get your hopes too
high.”
Both the Nissley children are
showing Angus-Chianina crosses.
At the county round-up, where they
were selected as eligible to attend
the Harrisburg show, Michelle
showed first in the lightweight
class, and Derek showed fifth in
lightweight.. They both hope their
animals will show as mid
dleweights at the Farm Show.
Derek’s animal was reserve
champion at the Elizabethtown
Fair and Michelle’s was second in
the class at that fair.
The Nissleys leave the care of
their animals at the Farm Show to
the caretakers who provide for all
the Lancaster County steers. Once
there, however, Michelle says,
“We all help each other.”
She also admits that some
friends from the W.I. Beam Junior
High School where she is in eighth
grade “think it’s weird” that she
shows a steer, but she adds, “I
don’t care.” Actually a Tew years
ago Derek’s whole class traveled
to Harrisburg to watch him show.
He attends the Maytown
Elementary School.
Is money the key to Farm Show’s
popularity? Actually, Michelle
points out that prices aren’t any
better there than at the county
show, but the steers will weigh
more. It means that they make just
a little more. However, Michelle
notes, “We have to pay off the loan
that we took to purchase the steer,
and the rest of the money goes into
our savings account. We don’t
make very much.”
While total numbers being shown
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Working together makes the work go easier for Mount Joy's Derek and Michelle
Nissley. But they both admit that saying goodbye to two steers is doubly difficult.
from Lancaster County are down
this year, Mrs. Nissley says that
actually makes it nicer, because
there is more space for those who
are showing. She says many are
choosing not to hold their steers if
they are finished at round-up.
The Nissleys mostly purchase
local steers, although for next year
they have an animal purchased in
Indiana. Michelle got first pick on
next year’s animal, so she chose
the steer from Indiana. When
asked if it is a problem for the tw6
children to make the initial
selection, Mrs. Nissley says, “It
usually works out.”
Being in 4-H is very much a part
of the lives of Derek and Michelle.
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Derek says he likes it because he
gets to meet a lot of people. Also,
he says, “It makes you have more
responsibility for something.”
Michelle agrees that being in 4-H
and caring for a steer teaches
some valuable lessons. “You’re
responsible for your own steer and
getting it ready. You also learn to
handle money.”
Michelle admits that this year
she is dealing with a steer that has
changed considerably over the
months of preparation. “At the
beginning my steer was awful. He
was very hard to break to lead. He
was one of the worst ones I had, but
he’S changed a lot.” In fact, she
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now acknowledges, “I*cry when 1
sell them. You ~eta’t help getting
attached to themi’
fit is hard to sell
them.’" He ados that his steer was
tame from the beginning. Because
they share the chores as they care
for their animals, they also get
attached to each other's animals, a
double burden on sale day.
Of course the goal for any in
terested 4-H’er is always the
ultimate title - grand champion
steer at Farm Show. Do Michelle
and Derek aspire to the title 7
Michelle answers, “It’s a goal. It
means your steer is the best
steer.”
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