“We’re teaching them a lot of good everyday, as far as work ethics and responsibility but at the same time were giving them a platform to get out and show their animals and be rewarded for their hard work.” – MCN Ag Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom
Lani Hansen/Senior Reporter
OKEMAH, Oklahoma– The Muscogee (Creek) Nation Ag Youth Program hosted their Eighth Annual All Indian Livestock Show on Aug. 6-8 at the Okfuskee County Fairgrounds.
In previous years the show was held at the end of January, but due to the pandemic the event had been postponed. This was a make up show for the one they did not have in January.
“We had a make up show, because we had already purchased a lot of our awards and stuff,” MCN Ag Youth Program Manager Billy Haltom said. “We needed to get those disbursed out to everybody.”
On Friday night Aug. 6, they had the sheep and goats showing. On Saturday was the showing of pigs, and the cattle showing was on Sunday afternoon. They had about half of the number of participants than the regular showing, due to the timing. Haltom said there was about 100 head of goats, around 50 head of sheep, about 75 head of hogs and 40 head of cattle.
This livestock show brings in Native American youth from six years old to high school seniors. It teaches the youth responsibility and allows them to see what livestock showing is.
“It gives them a chance to get out in front of a large group of people and present their animal or livestock,” Haltom said. “Showing livestock is not easy. It’s great the day of the show, but takes a whole lot of work to get one of them ready.”
“We’re teaching them a lot of good everyday, as far as work ethics and responsibility but at the same time were giving them a platform to get out and show their animals and be rewarded for their hard work.”
Haltom said every year they bring out Native youth Muscogee (Creek) or not, as long as they are tribal affiliated residing in the eight county jurisdictions. They also bring in Muscogee (Creek) youth from out of state.
This year they handed out 39 belt buckles and over 100 banners.
The top four belt buckle winners are: Breanna Gann (Grand Champion-Market Hog), Jade McPeak (Grand Champion-Breeding Heifer), Leo Enlow (Grand Champion-Steer) and Avery White (Grand Champion-Market Goat).
The Ninth Annual All Indian Livestock Show will be on the last weekend of January 2022 at the Okfuskee County Fairgrounds in Okemah.
