FWCD 4-H Makes a Splash at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo

FWCD 4-H members represented Fort Worth Country Day proudly in the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo in recent weeks. View the slideshow. From showing chickens, a duck (an FWCD first), and cattle, to participating in the Calf Scramble, serving as representatives for Texas Brigade Camps and working as a Mutton Buster, these students showed their skills and made an impact.

Chicken Showing: 4-H Poultry Club 

2022 was the FWCD 4-H Poultry Club’s third year to compete in the Fort Worth Stock Show. With 32 students showing a total of 51 birds (50 chickens plus the club’s first duck), this year’s event allowed students to enter their birds in the “Chicken Beauty Pageant” and Showmanship, a contest for exhibitors to present their birds to a judge to demonstrate their knowledge of poultry and their communication skills. Showmanship is more about the presenter, less about the chicken. “The students were a wonderful mix of experienced and novice poultry owners, from Class of 2023 to Class of ’34, with a Future Falcon thrown in just for fun,” said Rachel Werner, Poultry Club Leader. “As usual, our veteran kids were very helpful to the newcomers. Saturday and Sunday were really busy days at the Stock Show, but even in the large crowds, our students stood out, sporting FWCD attire and representing our school so well.” The Poultry Club is looking forward to beginning a breeding program on campus in the spring and having new baby chicks shortly after spring break. It’s not too late to join in the fun of the Poultry Club. Interested students and families can contact Rachel Werner. 

SHOWMANSHIP PARTICIPANTS

• Clover Kids (4-7) – All Received First Place Ribbons
• Waverly Bowman ’34
• John Robert Lively ’33
• Emma Claire Redus ’32
• Sawyer Redus ’34
• Gabriella Vecino ’32
• Foster Prigel ’32
• Matilda Wallace ’34

Junior (8-10)

• Eliza Bluntzer ’31 – Fourth Place, Junior Division Showmanship
• Bradleigh Bowman ’29
• Knox Davidson ’29
• Kathryn Huff ’29
• George Louden ’32
• Robin Lutz ’30
• Hank Morrison ’31
• Finley Packer ’32
• Barrett Prigel ’30
• Winn Schooler ’31– Second Place, Junior Division Showmanship
• Charlie Sellers ’31

Intermediate (11-13)

• Thomas Bluntzer ’27
• Harrison Homan ’27
• Broadie Prigel ’27
• Henry Sellers ’27
• Eloise Wallace ’26
• Evie Werner ’28 – Fourth Place, Intermediate Division Showmanship

Senior (14-18)

• Mimi Cauble ’23
• Caroline Homan ’23 – Third Place, Senior Division Showmanship
• Judson Tighe ’25

Cattle Showing

Brothers Jackson Grace ’23 and Caden Grace ’29 showed their Texas Longhorn Cattle at the Fort Worth Stock Show on January 17-18. Caden placed third in Intermediate Showmanship in the youth show. Jackson won Grand Champion Mature Female with JCG Elektra and Reserve Grand Champion Mature Female with Black Cadillac. Jackson also participated in the Calf Scramble at the Rodeo on January 20 and was the first participant to catch a calf that night. There were many FWCD families and friends in the stands cheering Jackson on, including his good friends, Christopher Baker ’23 and Alex Nolan ’23 and Upper School English Teacher Spencer Smith. 

Brothers Making a Difference

Brothers Chappell Carter ’25 and Price Carter ’26 helped with the Kids Gone Wild exhibit at the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo on Sunday, January 24. They were there as representatives of Texas Brigade Camps, a nonprofit organization with a mission to educate and empower adolescents with leadership skills and knowledge in wildlife, fisheries, and land stewardship to become conservation ambassadors for a sustained natural resource legacy. Chappell is a graduate of Ranch Brigade, and Price is a graduate of Buckskin Brigade. 

Mutton Bustin’ Falcon

Harrison Homan ’27 has closed for the Fort Worth Rodeo mutton busting competition for approximately four years. It started a few years ago after the Homan family moved to Fort Worth and went to their first rodeo. Harrison loved watching the bullfighters (rodeo clowns). Soon, he was asking to be a rodeo clown for Halloween, so his mom, Paige, made him a costume. He then wore it to the rodeo. When Harrison’s dad, Matt, was in the process of opening Dickies Arena, Harrison would walk around the rodeo with him meeting people. He met Bruce McCarty, one of the managers of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo, who asked Harrison if he wanted to go on the dirt during the mutton bustin’ and be the clown. The rest is history. Harrison’s job is to help the kids up out of the dirt when they fall off their sheep. If you saw Harrison at the rodeo on January 23, you could tell he was loving his job! 

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