OKEMAH –The Muscogee (Creek) Nation hosted its 13th Annual All Indian Livestock Show on Jan 30 – Feb.1 at the Okfuskee County Fairgrounds. The competition was open to all Mvskoke youth in the state and all enrolled Tribal youth in the reservation.
MCN Agriculture Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom had said that this year’s turnout was outstanding.
The championships in the different breed categories received belt buckles, and all Grand winners received a new Pendleton blanket signed by MCN Chief David Hill. A free t-shirt was also given for pre-entering.
“We decided that we would go ahead and have 3 divisions in our goat show, and that just allows for us to spread the wealth out a little bit,” Haltom said. It gives us an opportunity too because every one of our division winners receives a belt buckle. In that 3-day stop show, we gave away 42 belt buckles, which is something that I don’t think any other jackpot show in the state of Oklahoma can say.”
Throughout the 13 shows the MCN has hosted, Haltom enjoys seeing the kids. He has seen kids who started at 9 years old showing their livestock, and some have graduated or are graduating.
“I’ve seen them progress, through 9 to 10 years of showing and to see them mature and grow into young outstanding agriculturalists, it’s just really a blessing to be able to be a part of those young people’s lives and maybe have just a little bit of an influence on or an impact on them through their high school years,” Haltom said.
Haltom started work in the MCN Youth Ag Program in Nov. 2012, which was during the time their program was in transition from going to county extension to being run strictly through MCN. During that time, Haltom wanted to do something for Native children in agriculture, which led to the livestock show.
This year, he noticed the numbers were a little bit down, but he thinks it’s due to the economy. However, they’ve been showing livestock about every other weekend since October, and Haltom thinks the numbers have been going down everywhere, regardless of the show, species, or location.
“It’s somewhat expensive to get into, and it seems like by the time you purchase an animal, you pay for the feed, upkeep, and the things that are required for good husbandry,” Haltom explained. “A lot of people just haven’t been able to afford it this year, and I think that’s the reason why we see kind of a little bit of a decrease in numbers, not just at our show but all shows. It has grown every year until this year, and again, the economy, I think, is the reason for that.”
However, Haltom believes this livestock show still draws people. “Because we’re talking over 300 kids that are entered in the livestock show over the course of those 3 days and I’m not saying we’re overlooked in the big scope of things, but there’s a lot of people that are within MCN that maybe aren’t as aware as a lot of the agriculture activities that we have going on and this is an event that is has been going on for 13 consecutive years,” Haltom stated.
Haltom spoke of how people still look forward to this annual All-Indian Livestock show because he receives calls about the exact dates of their show. He explained that some of the people who schedule for a local or county livestock show don’t do so on the dates MCN hosts, since everyone wants to attend MCN’s event.
Results from the MCN Ag Youth Program:
Heifers-
Supreme Champion: Julie Emerson from Checotah
Reserve Champion: Brody Lovett from Checotah
Bronze Champion: Callie Borjon from Henryetta
Steer-
Grand Champion: Lane Berry from Eufaula
Reserve Grand Champion: Chauncey Whisenhunt from Eufaula
Market lamb-
Grand Champion: Channing Bass
Reserve Grand Champion: Tyan Stacy
Bronze Champion: Chastan Wilson
Doe Goat-
Grand Champion: Jacey Treadwell from Oologah
Reserve Grand and Bronze Champion: Dally Treadwell from Oologah
Wether Goat-
Grand and Reserve Grand Champion: Paisley Nail from Ft. Gibson
Bronze Champion- Jade McPeak
Market Hog-
Grand Champion: Annabell Parker
Reserve Grand Champion: Olivia Guinn
Bronze Champion: Layla Lee
