Young Waltz Ranchers Shine In Stettler And Bashaw Competitions

The Waltz family of W2 Land and Cattle recently wrapped up a busy and rewarding few weeks as their children, Marley, Cash, Jaycee, and Merit, participated in two major youth agricultural events: the Young Canadian Simmental Association (YCSA) Show in Stettler from July 30 to August 2, and the National Junior Heifer Show and Cow Camp in Bashaw from August 13 to 16.

These events are designed to empower young cattle enthusiasts by placing responsibility directly in their hands. Participants are 25 and under, and the older participants step up to provide guidance, taking on mentorship roles and supporting the younger children in a peer-led environment that fosters confidence, leadership, and independence.

In Stettler, the children took part in individual judging, where they were required to provide both written and oral explanations for how they placed different groups of cattle. The top six to eight individuals were then paired into teams for a show ring competition, judging a class of heifers and giving oral reasons to the audience. One participant served as the judge, while the other took on the role of ring man. Marley and Cash both ranked in the top eight and advanced to the team judging round. Cash was paired with a young lady and served as judge, while Marley worked as a ringman alongside a young gentleman.

The event also included agriculture-related quizzes, a photography contest, team grooming competitions, showmanship classes, roundtable discussions, and a variety of team-building activities. Educational components included a talk on herd health from Dr. Skylar Bieleny, DVM, of Lacombe, as well as interactive animal health stations run by vet students from the University of Calgary.

The Waltz children brought home some impressive results. Marley won the championship in team grooming and qualified for the National Junior Heifer Show in team judging. Cash earned reserve champion in showmanship, and Jaycee was named champion junior photographer.

At the National Junior Heifer Show and Cow Camp in Bashaw, the structure of the event shifted slightly, with several activities requiring prior qualification. Marley returned to the ring man role, this time with two friends from the Calgary area, and the trio finished second overall in the junior division. Additional competitions included showmanship, grooming, and clipping.

Cash, Jaycee, and Merit joined Kenzi and Taryn Westman for Cow Camp, a two-day event that blends practical agricultural skills with creative projects. Camp activities included grooming, showmanship, and crafts. One highlight of the experience was a fun and entrepreneurial challenge where participants set up a “dirty soda” stand during the heifer bracket, selling custom drinks and collecting tokens from spectators.

Jaycee, Kenzi, and Taryn all finished in the top ten for peewee showmanship, and Kenzi placed third overall in the peewee aggregate.

These events go far beyond competition. They offer young people real-life opportunities to learn responsibility, build resilience, and gain independence. Watching youth take on tasks like feeding, grooming, washing, and carrying water buckets, without adult involvement, is both inspiring and rewarding. The friendships formed at these events are lasting, and the sense of community created through mentorship and teamwork helps shape confident, capable young leaders in agriculture and beyond.