Aldermere Achievers Shine
Anticipation, anxiety, excitement, then pride, may well best describe the series of emotions Maine Coast Heritage Trust’s Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club members experienced on November 15 during the National Belted Galloway Society’s National Youth Show. They also describe the feelings of staff and parents in attendance.
The National Belted Galloway Society’s National Youth Show was one of many competitions presented in Louisville, Kentucky at this year’s North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE), the world’s largest all-breed, purebred livestock exposition. Attending and competing at the National Show had been a goal of the Aldermere Achievers 4-H club throughout the year. 
Through persistent fundraising initiatives, generous community involvement, and supportive families, the first part of the dream was realized early last week, as eight Aldermere Achievers 4-H Club Members and ten head of cattle arrived in the Blue Grass State. By mid-week, the group of young farmers had risen to the occasion to not only proudly represent MCHT Aldermere Farm Preserve, but to taken home numerous awards as well.
The day of the competition began early and required a lot of preparation. After breakfast, the crew headed over to the Expo site for feeding, shampooing, drying, clipping, accentuating positive traits, and hiding negative ones - 
all critical components to an award-winning presentation.
The competition, when it began, was divided into two categories: showmanship and breed classes. Through showmanship, the judge determined how well the young trainers had worked with their animal’s hair, how well they lead them, and how knowledgeable they were about their breed. Through the breed class evaluations, the competition involved judging animals of similar age followed by a Grand Champion among all the age group winners.
There are two key awards in the competition and Aldermere Achievers received both: Erin Rollins won for 
National Grand Champion Steer and Addie Bragg took home the National Grand Champion Heifer. Following them was Frances Pendleton. She won National Reserve Grand Champion with her heifer. In total, three of the top four awards were achieved by Aldermere Achievers!
Fellow Achievers Tyler Leighton, Sam Leighton, Ellie Pendleton, Lucy Heal and Alice Flint all finished strong by using the best showmanship skills of their life at this National Show. With hundreds of eyes on them, each Achiever prepared their animal and presented it to the judge with calmness and focus while exhibiting the greatest respect for their fellow competitors from around the United States.
If you want to see the work of Aldermere Farm firsthand and its award-winning cattle, join MCHT on December 3 for a “Beltie Holiday.” This annual event is part of the region’s Christmas by the Sea. It will feature opportunities to pet a calf, make a Beltie keepsake ornament, and learn more about year-round programs at Aldermere Farm and the nearby Erickson Fields Preserve. The event is free and runs from 9:00 am to noon. Please bring your own camera and the whole family.
