Stolls prepare for a busy fair season

     Sisters Lilly, 13, and Reagan, 11, Stoll of Monticello, members of the Scotch Grove Challengers 4-H Club, are busy prepping for the Great Jones County Fair.

   This will be Lilly’s fifth year exhibiting livestock; Reagan’s second year.

   In fact, Lilly will turn 14 on the first day of the fair this summer!

   Both girls plan to enter the Dairy and the Beef shows; Lilly will also take part in the Horse Show.

   The sisters came away from the 2021 GJCF with some win. Lilly won Reserve Champion for Intermediate Showman in the Horse Show with her horse “Whisper.”

   In fact, her horse holds a special place in her heart. During Lilly’s first year showing at the fair, she won Reserve in the Trail Class. Sadly, that very day, her grandmother passed away.

   “She taught me everything with her horse,” said Lilly.

   In the Beef Show, Lilly showed the Champion Hereford Cow/Calf, the Reserve Champion Registered Hereford Heifer, and the Champion Registered Hereford Heifer.

   Reagan showed the Reserve Champion County Bred & Raised Commercial Heifer.

   In the Dairy Show, Lilly won Intermediate Showman and showed the Reserve Champion Holstein Winter Yearling; and Reagan showed the Champion Holstein Junior Yearling.

   This year will be a big year for Reagan as she takes part in the Market Livestock Auction, selling her mini-Hereford steer “Stevie.”

   Both girls start working with their animals over the winter a good six months or so before the fair even begins.

   “We get them (the cattle) used to the barn environment,” explained Lilly, explained that the livestock spend a lot of time in and around the barns during the fair.

   She also spends a couple a day getting them used to wearing a halter.

   Reagan said beef are harder to work with versus dairy because beef cattle aren’t handled as often as dairy due to being milked a few times a day.

   Reagan also talks to her animals to get used to her voice.

   Lilly likes to play the radio around her animals so they get used to the noise level, similar to that of the fair.

   The girls also brush, wash, and rise their animals as if they’re getting ready to show.

   Lilly said it’s important to get the cattle used to a show stick, which is used to help square-up their bodies when presenting in front of a judge.

   The Stoll girls attended beef clinics at a young age to learn about how to show at the fair.

   “I also lean on advice from Paige and Lisa Rickels,” said Lilly.

   The girls’ mom, Katie Wernimont, also showed livestock at the GJCF when she was their age.

   “I grew up showing dairy,” noted Wernimont. “I was not professional by any means, but I had fun doing it.”

   The Stolls work with their dairy cows at their dad’s (Matt Stoll) farm, where they milk 250 cows. The horses and beef remain at their grandpa’s (Gary Zumbach) farm.

   Before the GJCF, the Stolls exhibited beef at the Wyoming Fair to practice with their animals.

   Aside from the animals, both girls are finishing up their STATIC projects, too. Lilly made a pair of braided horse reins. Reagan is working on painting a barn quilt.

   They enjoy spending time at the fair because they get to see their friends and hang out in the barns.

   Having received advice from older 4-H exhibitor, the Stolls have words of encouragement to pass down as well…

   “Patience is key,” said Lilly. “Sometimes things don’t go your way, but take a deep breath and just stay calm.”

   “Good luck,” said Reagan. “And remember to take control of your animals.”