Lauren Ricks
The Athens Review
SALINA, Kan. —
When Delaney Herrington escorts her market steer, two market hogs, two breeding hogs and heifer into the Henderson County Fair Park Coliseum next week, it won’t be for the first time.
Herrington, 18, of Athens will enter her animals in the 50th annual Henderson County Livestock Show next week, just as she has since she was in the third grade.
“I have an older brother, and he had been doing since he was in the third grade,” she said. “It was kind of like he was doing, so you can do it.”
Herrington said she continues to enter the show because she likes to take care of animals.
“I like animals a lot, being around them, and working with them every day,” she said. “I’ve shown swine, steers, heifers and a couple of goats.”
Herrington said she prefers to show pigs more than any other animal.
“They are smaller and if they go crazy, they can go by themselves, and won’t drag me along with them,” she said.
Herrington said she enjoys participating in the shows so much, she is building a career around it. She said she will attend Tarleton State University in Stephenville majoring in agriculture services and development.
Herrington said she plans to be an agriculture teacher.
“I don’t want to get away from the shows just yet,” she said. “I want to keep attending them.”
Herrington said competing in the shows has taught her responsibility, respect for others, humility and the ability to take constructive criticism.
“I’ve not won every show or year,” she said. “I’ve been knocked down a few times. I take criticism very well.”
Herrington said she is also motivated to be successful academically.
“It’s helping me keep my grades up because if I don’t, I don’t get to show,” she said.
