Clover Bud enjoys a first time fair-like experience

As I ventured onto the Steele County Fairgrounds last week to cover the 4-H Livestock shows, I came across a little fellow that brought me back to my 4-H days many years ago when I showed hogs.
Brody Lang of the Merry Lane 4-H Club made his first appearance as a Clover Bud at the fair with a beef steer named Snow Flake, who was born during a snowstorm back in mid-January. He had some help from Kalyn Naatz, a veteran of 4-H herself who has also been a babysitter for Brody and his brother.  
It’s neat to see young kids develop an interest in 4-H and specifically showing at well, what was supposed to be the county fair. The 4-H shows were cut short this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those with livestock projects came only for one day to show their animals and then they turned around and left again. Certainly not the fair experience 4-Hers are used to having, but the important thing is they got to show and go in front of a judge.
For Brody, he also got a couple extra bonuses. He had his picture taken by yours truly and one of the local radio stations taped a short interview with him. It was great to see him beaming with pride over his animal. This, no doubt, will instill confidence in him that will last a lifetime.
Brody’s father, Mark, credits Naatz for getting Brody involved in 4-H as neither Mark or his wife were ever in 4-H. “She promoted 4-H and offered to help us get involved,” said Mark, who grew up in Austin. He now has a small farm outside of Blooming Prairie with about 10 beef steers. “She has been very instrumental in getting the boys with the animals and other projects.”
Mark says Brody is involved with the animals every day. Brody especially enjoys bottle-feeding them. “He is a hard working little boy,” Mark said, adding he often runs out to the barn in his pajamas to take care of the animals before retreating back inside to watch cartoons.
Beef wasn’t the only project for Brody. He also showed a rabbit and goat this year.
“He was really gung ho for a 6 year old,” Mark says. “He really took off with it.”
With no previous experience with 4-H, Mark likes what he sees happening with Brody, who will be a first grader at Blooming Prairie this fall. “It teaches a lot of values you don’t see in kids now-a-days,” Mark said of 4-H.
While Mark was disappointed the year was cut short by Brody not getting the full effect of being at the fair, he knows one thing for sure. Brody is eager to come back again next year. “He loves it,” Mark says.
Brody will be in hot pursuit for years to come of showing in 4-H and winning championships with the hopes of going to the Minnesota State Fair.