The Branyan family from Assumption poses beside Miss Cruel, the Grand Champion Hereford heifer at the 2008 Illinois State Fair, shown by Bradi Branyan, 11. Others in the family include Beau, 9, parents Jim and Chelli and oldest sister Blair, 22. Not present is Bailey, 18. For city dwellers walking through the livestock and poultry barns at the Illinois State Fair and stopping to watch the competition in the show rings gives them a glimpse of rural life. For farm families, "showing animals at the fair is really a hobby, a family hobby," says Chelli Branyan, of rural Assumption, whose youngest daughter and son each won awards showing animals at the fair.
Jim Branyan grows corn and soybeans and raises cattle on their farm. Chelli is secretary at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish in Assumption.
"A lot of men golf, or race dirt bikes for a hobby," Chelli says. "But showing cattle is a hobby for the entire family. There are not a lot of hobbies that the entire family does together. This is something that teaches kids responsibility, it gets them out, and they make friends. When our oldest daughter went away to college at ISU, she knew so many people there from having gone to the fairs."
A February Hereford heifer shown by Bradi Branyan, 11, won Grand Champion in that division at the 2008 Illinois State Fair. Bradi has shown cattle before, but this was her first year to show at the state fair. A 1,250 lb. Hereford steer shown by her brother Beau, 9, placed first in its class at the state fair. "He was thrilled with that," says his mother.
A February Hereford heifer shown by Bradi Branyan, 11, of Assumption, won Grand Champion in that division at the 2008 Illinois State Fair. The 1,250 lb. Hereford steer shown by her brother Beau, 9, placed first in its division at the state fair. Showing cattle means continually practicing with them and 90 percent of the work is done at home. A person has to lead the cow or steer around the ring, and practice setting its legs up to be judged. "Every day we wash them and blow their hair dry. If you are not washing their hair, you are rinsing it, because you want their hair to be nice and smooth, and then they are tied up and fans are blown on them all during the day - at home and at the fair," says Chelli.