Big Sister Sets the Stage for Showing Livestock at PA Farm Show

Molly Burke (left) is leading a family tradition of showing livestock as a Delmonico Club 4-H member, attending this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show this year with her sister, Norah (center), and mother, Rebekah. She took two lambs – Phannie (left) and Norman – who are also siblings, but Molly was only permitted to show Norman.

Story and photo by Rick Hiduk

(originally published in the Susquehanna County Independent)

Molly Burke, daughter of Edward and Rebekah Burke and a sophomore at Montrose Area High School, made her second appearance at the Pennsylvania Farm Show this past weekend, spearheading a generation of livestock showers among her siblings who raise sheep, hogs and cattle on their farm in Brackney. The PA Farm Show is the pinnacle of a year of raising and showing animals for hundreds of youths from across the state who belong to 4-H, FFA, and other ag-related youth organizations.

Molly, traveling this year with her mother, Rebekah, and younger sister Norah, took two yearling lambs to Harrisburg. “I didn’t know until I got down here that you can only show one animal per species,” Molly said of Farm Show policy that differs from her previous experiences at the Harford Fair.

Between Phannie and Norman, a female and male from the same set of triplets, Molly decided to show Norman. The normally mild-mannered young ram gave Molly her second surprise of the event when he got a bit of stage fright during weigh in. “He actually jumped up and chipped my tooth,” she explained.

Based on her previous experience in the showing ring, Molly still felt that Norman had the best features.

He’s very thorough and very smooth. His legs are also very fluffy,” she related. Molly also appreciates Norman’s personality and antics on the farm. “He tends to get the zoomies. He gets excited and jumps around and plays with his pen mates.” Nonetheless, she added, “He’s usually pretty calm when he walks.”

Molly has been raising lambs for about five years and, two years ago, she took fourth place with a lamb that also made it to the corporate-sponsored youth livestock auction held each Tuesday of the Farm Show. Though Norman was not as skittish in the ring, he didn’t make a big enough impression on the judges to get to that auction.

While the Burkes breed and raise show cattle on their farm, they purchase the pigs and sheep from other local farmers that the youths work with as members of the Delmonico 4-H Club. The lambs came from the Hardisky farm in Nicholson. Although she used to enjoy showing sheep more, Molly admits that she now prefers showing steers as she will do this coming summer at the Harford Fair.

Norman’s last-place finish in his division was a bit of a disappointment, she noted, but setting a good example for Norah was a goal that she accomplished proudly.

Norah came down to see her sister show for a second time,” Rebekah noted. “At the Farm Show, there’s kids from all of the counties in Pennsylvania instead of just from Susquehanna County.”

She is old enough but she wanted a little more experience,” Molly concurred. “So she came down to get a better feel for it before she does it herself.”

Molly is becoming a mentor not only for 10-year-old Norah, but also for her 14-year-old brother Liam, who shows cross-bread hogs, and eight-year-old sister Keirah, who will move past the Cloverbud division and show sheep as a 4-H member for the first time this year.

At Montrose High School, Molly enjoys math and is a member of the basketball team. After graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in veterinary medicine to become a large animal vet.

The 109th Pennsylvania Farm Show continues through Saturday, Jan. 11.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *