LITTLE VALLEY — Growth is the name of the game at 4-H — growth for livestock, for children and for the program in Cattaraugus County.

The program hosted 370 children across 20 clubs in Cattaraugus County this program year, said 4-H Educator Abby Luzier, with around 250 children participating in the annual Cattaraugus County Fair this week. Many of those children participated in multiple programs, such as raising and showing multiple animals and preparing static displays.

“They do everything,” Luzier said. “We have something to offer for everyone.”

Luzier, who has been with the program through her role at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Cattaraugus County for 10 years, noted that the program has not been stagnant.

“We’ve definitely increased enrollment in recent years,” she said.

She credited several things for the growth.

“Having really strong role models for our younger youth (encouraging them) to try new things and get out of their comfort zone, has really benefited our program,” Luzier said. “You have very dedicated parents and volunteers who want the program to be successful.”

With the 4-H world having to evolve around the pandemic, “COVID really put some things in perspective for our program” she said. Online opportunities, wider ranges of programs in cooperation with other groups across the state and an increase in free time during the pandemic helped provide fertile ground for children to try new things.

Caden Herman of Leon, the 16-year-old beef and dairy showman grand champion of this year’s fair, told the Times Herald he began showing beef steers when he was 5, and used that opportunity to branch out into showing dairy cattle.

“I started with COVID,” he said, noting he spent this spring and summer showing his cattle at various events in the region.

He encouraged other 4-Hers to try new things and to keep working.

“Don’t give up — just keep going,” he said. “The work does eventually pay off, even if it takes a couple of years.”

Herman then went to show Amelia Savage of Little Valley — who has experience with horse showing — the finer points of showing cattle.

“That’s my favorite part — watching the kids teach each other,” Luzier said.

OPEN BEEF SHOW RESULTS

Angus Early Junior Heifer Calf — 1st, Madeline Gabel of Lawtons.

Hereford, Late Junior Yearling Heifer — 1st, Jacob Atwater of Franklinville; 2nd, Jack and Nancy Carter of Little Valley.

Hereford, Cow & Calf (2-3 years) — 1st, Jack and Nancy Carter.

Hereford, Cow & Calf (3-plus years) — 1st, Jack and Nancy Carter.

Hereford, Spring Junior Bull Calf — 1st, Jacob Atwater; 2nd, Jack and Nancy Carter

Hereford, Produce of Dam — 1st, Jacob Atwater.

Simmental, Spring Junior Heifer — 1st, Nick Beaver of Randolph.

Simmental, Cow & Calf (3-plus years) — 1st, Nick Beaver.

Simmental, Produce of Dam — 1st, Nick Beaver.

Other registered breeds, Spring Junior Heifer Calf — 1st, Leslie Mesch of Collins; 2nd, Nick Beaver.

Other registered breeds, Cow & Calf (2-3 years) — 1st, Leslie Mesch.

Other registered breeds, Pair of calves — 1st, Nick Beaver.

Commercial, Early Junior Heifer Calf — 1st, Ava West of Cattaraugus; 2nd, Alyssa West of Cattaraugus; 3rd, Allyson Biscup of Little Valley.

Commercial, Late Junior Yearling Heifer — 1st and 2nd, Wyatt Shields of Randolph.

Commercial, Early Senior Yearling Heifer — 1st, Lena Biscup of Little Valley.

Commercial, Cow & Calf (2-3 years) — 1st, Paisley Nelson of Machias.

Commercial, Early Junior Bull Calf — 1st, Ethan Boutelle of Kennedy.

Commercial, Early Junior Yearling Bull — 2nd, Ava West; 3rd, Alyssa West.

Commercial, Pair of calves — 1st, Ava West; 2nd, Alyssa West.

Commercial, Pair of yearlings — 1st, Wyatt Shields.

Prospect Steer — 1st, Paisley Nelson.

Jackpot Steer — 1st, Nick Beaver; 2nd, Wyatt Shields; 3rd, Ava West; 4th, Aidan Biscup; 5th, Taylor Costa of Randolph; 6th, Khloe Duffy of Frewsburg; 7th, Harleigh May of Delevan; 8th, Ethan Boutelle; 9th, Carter Boutelle of Kennedy.

Breeders Special — 1st, Nick Beaver; 2nd, Ava West; 3rd, Alyssa West; 4th, Jack and Nancy Carter; 5th, Ethan Boutelle; 6th, Jacob Atwater.

OPEN SWINE SHOW RESULTS

Market Hog — 1st, Gabrielle Chapman of Randolph, Hampshire Hog; 2nd, Sayer Spinler of Randolph, Commercial Hog; 3rd, Benjamin Thompson of Falconer, other breed hog; 4th, Katrina Schrantz of Gerry, Commercial Hog.

Gilt — 1st, Weston Manning of Little Valley; 2nd, Ivy Manning of Little Valley; 3rd, Juleah Britton of Lawtons; 4th, Luke Schrantz of Gerry.

OPEN CLASS RABBIT SHOW

Mini Lop, Senior Buck — 1st and 2nd, Nicholas French of Olean.

Mini Rex, Senior Buck — 1st-5th, Gracelynn Thropp of Olean; 6th, Khloe Duffy of Frewsburg.

Mini Rex, Junior Buck — 1st and 2nd , Gracelynn Thropp.

Mini Rex, Senior Doe — 1st and 2nd, Gracelynn Thropp.

Mini Rex, Junior Doe — 1st, Gracelynn Thropp.

Standard Rex, Senior Buck — 1st, Amelia Fuller of West Valley.

Holland Lop, Senior Doe — 1st, Amelia Savidge of Little Valley.

Polish, Senior Buck — 1st, Claire Thompson of Kennedy.

Polish, Senior Doe —1st, Martha Kandel of Cattaraugus; 2nd, Renley Stoll of Cattaraugus.

Other breeds, Senior Buck — 1st, Nicholas French; 2nd and 3rd, Khloe Duffy of Frewsburg; 4th, Gracelynn Thropp; 5th, Savannah Fuller of West Valley.

Other breeds, Junior Buck — 1st, Savannah Fuller; 2nd, Amelia Savidge.

Other breeds, Senior Doe — 1st, Khloe Duffy; 2nd, Zailynne O’Neill of Randolph.

Other breeds, Junior Doe — 1st, Khloe Duffy.

Pet Rabbit, Senior Buck — 1st, Rosalyn Calabro of Cattaraugus.

Pet Rabbit, Senior Doe — 1st, Gordon Porter of East Concord.

Pet Rabbit, Junior Doe — 1st, Adalyn Tempio of Rochester.

OPEN CLASS SHEEP SHOW

Cheviot — All classes won by Emily Chapman of Randolph: Junior Ram Lamb, Breeders Flock, Ewe 1 year and Junior Ewe Lamb.

Dorset — Following classes won by Marcia Stang of Perrysburg: Senior Ram Lamb, Senior Ewe Lamb, Junior Ewe Lamb Breeders Flock and Pair of Market Lambs.

Dorset, Ewe, 1 year — 1st, Sawyer Chapman of Randolph; 2nd, Marcia Stang.

Suffolk, Feeder Lamb — 1st, Wyatt Weaver of Randolph.

Suffolk, Ewe, 1 year — 1st, Wyatt Shields of Randolph.

Other Breeds, Feeder Lamb — 1st, Breanna Unruh of Cattaraugus; 2nd, Wyatt Weaver; 3rd, Gabrielle Chapman of Randolph; 4th, Emily Chapman.

Other Breeds, Pair of Market Lambs — 1st, Luke Schrantz of Gerry.

Other Breeds, Ewe, 1 year — 1st, Marcia Stang of Perrysburg.

Other Breeds, Junior Ewe Lamb — 1st and 2nd, Marcia Stang of Perrysburg; 3rd and 4th, Corinne and Colt Conklin of Cattaraugus.

Commercial, Jr. Ram Lamb — 1st, Ethan Boutelle of Kennedy.

Commercial, Feeder Lamb — 1st and 2nd, Savannah Spinler.

Commercial, Pair of Market Lambs — 1st, Savannah Spinler; 2nd, Khloe Duffy of Frewsburg.

Commercial, Ewe, 1 year — 1st, Ethan Boutelle.

Commercial, Junior Ewe Lamb — 1st, Quinn Pence of Randolph; 2nd, Savannah Spinler; 3rd, Khloe Duffy; 4th, Katrina Schrantz of Gerry.

Southdown, Ram, 2 years and over — 1st, Christy Oakes of Little Valley.

Southdown, Ewe, 2 years and over — 1st, Christy Oakes.

Southdown, Ewe, 1 year — 1st, Wyatt Shields.

Southdown, Junior Ewe Lamb — 1st, Gracin Conklin of Cattaraugus.

Wool Breeds — Following classes won by Natalie Oakes of Little Valley: Ram, 1 year; Junior Ram Lamb; Breeders Flock; Commercial Flock; and Ewe, 2 years and over.

Wool Breeds, Ewe, 1 year — 1st, Marcia Stang of Perrysburg; 2nd, Natalie Oakes.

Wool Breeds, Jr. Ewe Lamb — 1st and 2nd, Sawyer Chapman; 3rd, Natalie Oakes.

Texel, Junior Ewe Lamb — 1st and 2nd, Eliza Schrantz of Gerry.

Wool, Fine and Medium Wool — 1st, Emily Chapman.

Supreme Champion Ram — Natalie Oakes.

Supreme Champion Ewe — Sawyer Chapman.

Supreme Champion Flock — Natalie Oakes.