10-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, August 30, 2003
B
Kids.
Lone Star Gives Kelly A Wild Ride
While making the switch, she
Keljy King, 12, recuper- tied the halter around her waist
ates in the hospital after to free her hands to attach the
her 4-H calf took her for a rope
wild ride.
Kelly King holds the halter of her 4-H dairy beef calf
Owen, which replaces Lone Star.
Kelly holds Chocolate Chip, one of several puppies on
her family’s farm. Turn to page B 2 to read more about the
King family.
LOU ANN GOOD
Food And Family
Features Editor
COCHRANVILLE (Chester
Co.) For kids who have a real
ly tame animal for their 4-H proj
ect, Kelly King has some advice:
Never attach the rope or halter to
your waist.
Last summer, Kelly was pre
paring her dairy beef calf named
Lone Star for the Lancaster
County 4-H Fair. The day before
the event, Kelly decided to give
Lone Star a bath. She didn’t want
Lone Star’s leather halter to get
damaged from water, so she de
cided to attach a rope to Lone
Star.
Korner
The noise of a distant motor
spooked Lone Star. The calf tore
off, toppling Kelly and dragging
her behind him. Her back
scraped across pavement and
loose stones. Because the length
of the halter was so short, Kelly
was so close to the calf that the
calfs hooves kicked her again
and again in her face and chest.
After dragging her for 50 yards,
family members halted the calf.
Kelly was covered with blood,
and had severe bruising and cuts,
especially in the eye area from re
peated hoof kicks. Although
Kelly had a slight concussion, she
did not have internal injuries.
Instead of showing her calf at
the 4-H Fair, Kelly ended up in
the hospital for three days. A
plastic surgeon carefully stitched
the damage to her face. Today,
Kelly has a slight facial scar,
which she hopes will fade with
time.
It was a disappointment for
Kelly not to be able to show her
4-H calf, but the incident turned
out to help one of Kelly’s friends,
whose calf was sick and couldn’t
compete in the fair. Kelly’s friend
showed Lone Star, and took first
place for showmanship.
The calf was sold at the 4-H
Fair, but Kelly will never forget
Lone Star and her wild ride.
Since then, Kelly has had more
opportunities in livestock events.
Two weeks ago, Kelly tied for
first place in the junior division
for dairy judging at the Chester
County Holstein Day. The year
before, Kelly won a free calf in a
drawing sponsored by the Chest
er County Holstein Field Day.
Kelly’s brother, Colton,
also enjoys raising dairy
beef for 4-H. He wants to
take over the family farm
someday.
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Colton King sings country during a 4-H talent show.
The 10-year-old placed third, singing an Allan Jackson
song, “That’d Be All Right,” while competing against
13-year-olds. Read about Colton’s family on page 82, and
about his sister’s wild ride on this page.
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