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Kaycee Orr-Hoffman
Where did your show career begin, and what do you remember most about your county fair days?
I was born into a purebred Hereford family with a long legacy of success. My great-grandfather, Fred DeBerard, was called “The King of Cattle,” as he was a very successful cattleman not only in the purebred cattle business but in the show ring.
My show career, I guess you could say, was part of me from birth… perhaps a genetic defect!!!
My first show was a bucket calf contest at the Weld County Fair in Greeley, Colorado. In fact, one of my oldest friends to date was showing her bucket calf too!
I always thoroughly enjoyed our county fair, as it was tough competition, but that’s where my sisters and I really learned animal husbandry, along with fitting and feeding animals. We had to keep record books, which taught us the financial side of raising beef cattle. Furthermore, it was our 4-H projects that really taught us responsibility, work ethic, loyalty, and managing ourselves properly when speaking to adults and/or thanking a buyer.
What do county fairs teach kids that major shows can’t?
I’m a firm believer that county fairs are really where our youth learn the basics of raising, managing, and fitting livestock. The county fair is where my sisters and I—and now our kids—fit our first steers and breeding heifers.
The national shows have gotten so big and competitive that fitters are hired to fit animals for show days, leaving most of the youth on the “fitting sidelines.” The county fairs create a great environment to learn and practice without being on the big national stage.
It seems like it’s often the county fair where a lot of the elite fitters and potential breeders get started. A county fair offers individual success that sometimes a national show cannot offer.
In your opinion, what role do county programs play in the future of the cattle industry?
I think the county programs are crucial in raising the future breeders of the cattle industry. This is where so many older role models are willing to help and train youngsters the proper and progressive ways to move forward in the cattle industry.
My father-in-law was not raised on a ranch, but he took a Hereford heifer to his local county fair as a 4-H project. He strived to educate himself and improve his herd. He surrounded himself with cattle breeders who would assist him when needed to better himself and his stock.
That same 4-Her from long ago now has his name etched in the American Hereford Hall of Fame history book… and it all started with a 4-H project.
When you look at exhibitors who succeed at the highest level, what traits can usually be traced back to their county fair roots?
I often reflect back on the younger me and the programs that helped shape me. I was very involved in sports, school clubs/programs, and strived for excellence in all of them; however, the one club that rises to the top is 4-H.
The 4-H program can offer a great amount of self-esteem and confidence to almost any individual who is encouraged to join. A youngster doesn’t necessarily have to exhibit livestock but has endless opportunity in static projects, as well as ag-related projects such as welding, vet science, etc.
I firmly believe exhibitors who work hard with full ambition and motivation are the ones who rise to the top at the highest levels, wherever it may be.
If you could tell every county fair kid one thing, what would it be?
You get out of whatever it may be what you put into it.
Please feel free to add any other comments or statements you feel called to share.
I firmly believe 4-H, FFA, and now I would add junior livestock associations are incredible ways to get youngsters competitively involved in activities that they will use their whole life.
Most of our youth in today’s world are highly encouraged to do sports or other activities that typically are short-lived, costly, and create a large amount of burnout. These agriculture programs create individuals with work ethic, self-esteem, the ability to manage responsibility, speaking skills, among many other attributes that set them up for success later in life.
In our world, one often hears, “Hire the ag kids, they know how to work,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s these kids that are involved in these programs that will either be feeding the world or running the largest companies simply due to their childhood involvement in these programs.
