The last time that Kaitlyn had a Grand Champion lamb was the year her grandfather died in 2005.
“Leon was raised in Madison Township and he was Fair Board president,” said Linda Verhaeghe, Leon’s wife and Kaitlyn’s grandmother. “I’ve worked in the extension office for 25 years as 4-H Secretary. It’s been a family tradition. I married in to it. I was never involved as a kid at all but we raised three 10-year members and they’re all married and raising their families.
“I think they were all well-rounded in the projects they took but they love the animal projects.”
That includes nine-year member Kaitlyn, who has had other projects — but it’s the sheep that have her heart.
“The experience 4-H has given me has been great,” she said. “I love the sheep so much hopefully I can take it and make a little money on it down the road.”
It’s been tough, but not any more so than any other day on the farm.
“A normal day is 6 to 7 in the morning until midnight or 1 o’clock, That’s every day of my life,” she said with a smile. “There’s daily chores of feeding them and exercise, keeping them in shape.
“It takes year’s of experience to know what they look for in a lamb, but it takes structure, balance and style. You want a lot of muscle so that you have a high-yielding animal so that when you go to eat it you have a lot of meat.”
Kaitlyn hopes to continue with sheep, looking at junior college to get involved with judging and also showing animals for herself and others. But she says it won’t be easy.
“The amount of time you take for something like that makes it very tough to make any money at it,” she said. “I’ll probably have to find something else to do on the side, too.”
She admits her family background has a lot to do with the support for her success in 4-H but has advice for anyone who wants to be involved.
“A lot of it for me has been that family background,” she said. “Involve yourself with other people who are involved and (if you don’t have your own family involved) if there’s a family that’s willing to help you get involved with them, take all the advice they give you.”
She added, “Just sit and watch — and you can learn from just watching.”
Kaitlyn is a 17-year-old home-schooled student from Walnut Township.