Raising champions -- the Strack way

Bryce (left) and Blake (right) handle their lambs daily to ensure that they will show well when the Big Day comes. Van’Go’photo The Leon County Youth Livestock Show is coming up at the end of the month, and participants have been hard at work all year in preparation. To give you a peek at what it takes to bring a champion to the showring, the Buffalo Press reporters will be visiting with youngsters throughout the area.

Twins Bryce and Blake Strack showed the Grand and Reserve Champion Lambs last year, and the Buffalo 4-Hers have their sights on another good show in 2010. The guys were gracious enough to take us behind-the-scenes to see what is involved in raising a show-quality lamb.

Bryce and Blake paid $400 each for quality ewe lambs, but their investment did not end there. The Strack ranch already had a nice barn, but the guys still had to purchase several lamb-specific items: clippers, blankets and halters. They must also, of course, buy feed, though Blake pointed out, "They don't eat much." Wormer is another cost, and hopefully vet bills don't come into play. To save money, the boys were able to borrow a trim table from a friend who is not showing this year.

Bryce Strack secures his lamb on the trim table. Van’Go’photo BIGGEST Time is the big investment in these project animals. To show well, the animals have to be handled regularly -- and when you attend the show it is easy to see which ones have been worked with and which have not. Since Christmas, the Stracks have gotten their lambs out each day to walk them and "set 'em up" (position the animal for the judge to examine and to best show its form). To build muscle, the guys run their lambs 300-400 yards each day. The animals are also bathed about twice per week, and must be dried unless the weather is warm. During severe cold, the animals are blanketed and put in a pen together. The lambs are trimmed regularly, "usually every twoto three months", and more often when it is warm. Their wool was allowed to grow longer during cold weather, but the Stracks routinely have their lambs step up on the trim table and submit to being secured in place, even when they don't need a trim. "You don't want their first time on the table to be right before the show -- they might spook and fall off," Bryce explained. Then, of course, they are fed daily and must have fresh water and clean pens.

All of this is in addition to the teenagers' already busy schedule which includes school, sports and UIL, and other responsibilities at home and at their ranch. The BHS freshmen also rodeo and are neck-and-neck in the competition for Rookie of the Year Cowboy in THSRA Region 9.

Now that you know what is involved, you will probably want to attend the Market Lamb Show. It will be Tuesday, March 30 at 12:30 p.m. at the Leon County Livestock Show grounds located 1/2 mile south of the square off of State Highway 75. And don't miss the Premium Sale at the end of the week. It begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, April 2.