FW-Unwster, fanning,. Friday, January 6, 1995
GAIL STROCK
Mifflin Co. Correspondent
PAINTERSVILLE (Mifflin
Co.) We all know the values
associated with FFA and 4-H.
Youth learn responsibility, hard
work, teamwork, and clean fun
and fair competition.
The three Blystone children
from Paintersville, have learned
all of these things through six
years of 4-H for both Tim (who
also shows market lambs for
FFA), 15, and Kristy, 14, and two
years of 4-H for Ashley, 11.
But with their mother busy tak
ing classes for her GED, the Bly
stone’s Youth Fair and Farm
Show market lamb projects serve
another important purpose a
way to earn two timely “pay
checks” through the year.
With the Mifflin County Youth
Fair Livestock Sale just two weeks
before the start of school, the Bly
slones cash in their lamb sale
check for something very impor
tant — clothes for school. From
Ribbons and trophies shown here by Tim, Kristy, and
Ashley Blystone are only some of the rewards of partici
pating in FFA, 4-H, and the Farm Show. The rewards of
good workmanship and responsibility will outlive the
other prizes.
Farm Show Values Reap Many Rewards
the sale of their Farm Show ani
mals comes a check for purchas
ing next year’s lamb projects.
‘They use the money they get for
school clothes and put money away
for more sheep,” said Karen Bly
stone, who enjoys helping with the
sheep as much as her children do.
This year’s Farm Show will be
a first for showing lambs for Ash
ley. She’s looking forward to com
peting for dollar merit prizes for
placings $27 for first place,
$24 for second, $2l for third, $lB
for fourth, $l5 for fifth, and $l2
for all others in addition to the
sale of her lamb. Three years ago,
Tim Fisher, their 4-H Lamb Club
leader, encouraged Tim and Kristy
to show at the Farm Show. Tim
and Kristy have participated each
year since and will again this com
ing year.
The Blystones have typical
teenage and kid reasons for going
to the Farm Show, including get
ting out of school, people-watch
ing, and eating They normally stay
Monday through Thursday in the
Holding what they hope are Farm Show prize-winning lambs are, from left, Kristy,
Ashley, and Tim Blystone from Paintersville, Mifflin County.
barns with their lambs but can
move out to a camper with friends
if the dust bothers them too much.
Kristy received $lBO for the
sale of her Farm Show lamb last
year and their mother Karen some
times thinks they literally eat up
any of their profit at the Farm
Show - they love the food Ashley
loves the pickled eggs.
Karen admits there is little
profit left by the time the lambs are
sold, after purchasing feed. Costs
for new halters and brushes are
minimal because these are part of
the Youth Fair prizes donated by
area businesses. And because Tim
and Ashley received grand cham
pion status at this year’s Youth
Fair, they’ll receive a discount
towards the purchase of their next
lamb at the Centre Hall livestock
sale barn.
Tim and Ashley both earned
grand champion fitter and reserve
champion showman during this
past Youth Fair. Tim also won
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grand champion overall for his
market lamb and sold it for $3.85
per pound. Ashley won reserve
grand champion overall and sold
hers for $3.30 per pound. Kristy
won reserve champion fitter her
first year in 4-H and had the grand
champion breeding sheep at the
Youth Fair in 1991. Her market
lambs have earned her the Reserve
Champion place in her class for
the past two years at the Farm
Show.
When asked what they have
learned through their lamb-show
ing experience, Tim said, “I
learned how to take care of
things.”
Kristy said, “How to build a
feeder.”
Ashley said, “How to face the
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judge and not look away.”
Karen Blystone never thought
her children’s involvement in
lamb-showing would last this
long, but she gives it her full sup
port as does her mother, Marian
Laub, who takes one week of hei
vacation time during fair week to
help out.
With Ashley only 11, the Bly
stones will be showing lambs for
quite a few years yet. The values,
lessons, and skills waiting to be
learned through 4-H, FFA, and the
Farm Show are there for those
willing to work for them. But they
come with one word of wisdom
from Kristy, unmasked and
straightforward as teenagers can be
“Don’t start up if you’re lazy.”
Put your whole self into it, and
'the rewards will last a lifetime.
Visit Us At
The
PA Farm Show
Jan. 7-12
at
Booth 500& 501
IC.
P.O. Box 7775
Tele: 717-656-4191