'Like a big puppy dog': Dairy feeder a lovable 4-H project for 11-year-old Jaxton Kibler

Zeus was ready for a drink of water.

"He's kinda like a big puppy dog," Jaxton Kibler said of his 615-pound dairy feeder as the pair walked from the barn to the wash rack.

The 11-year-old from Waldo raised two Holsteins for the 2024 Marion County Fair, which runs through Saturday night.

The boy's other calf, Jake, is only 350 pounds and a lot more timid than his older brother, who is named after the Olympian god of thunder.

"Jake is a scaredy cat," Kibler said. "He's afraid of trees, rocks, everything."

The boy tied Zeus to the fence and sprayed him with water − the steer happily lapped the stream with his tongue as the sun shine brightly above.

'Pigs and dairy last year'

Kibler raised his calves near the village of Waldo, about 10 miles south of the faigrounds.

This is his third year exhibiting market animals at the Marion County Fair.

"I did just pigs the first year, then pigs and dairy last year," Kibler said. "This year, it's just dairy."

His dad, Jon Kibler, showed pigs when he was a youngster. He always wanted to raise cattle, but his family's property wasn't quite set up for such a large animal.

"Now I get to help with cows," the elder Kibler said. "I love them. They're easier personalities, especially the dairy breeds."

'A very big sense of responsibility'

The boy's mom, Lisa Kellogg, also showed hogs as a 4-H youth. She's glad her son has chosen to focus on steers and not swine.

"I think you can bond more with a calf than with a pig," Kellogg said. "It requires more time, and putting all that in gives you more experience."

Animals, after all, cannot take care of themselves.

"It teaches a very big sense of responsibility," Kellogg said. "That's very important."

Dairy shows begin 9 a.m. Wednesday at the Marion County Fair

The boy and his calves have spent hundreds of hours this year getting ready for Wednesday morning's show.

Dairy showmanship begins 9 a.m. Wednesday, with the breeding and market shows coming right after.

"I won grand champion for beginner showmanship last year," Kibler said. "I hope I do that again."

He knows it will take a lot of work, which is why he practices with Zeus and Jake as much as possible.

"Keep his head up," Kibler said. "Make sure his legs are a little wider, because his belly is round and that will make it flatter."

The odds of success are challenging to predict, even if the young showman does exactly what he plans.

"It depends on who the judge is," Kibler said. "We have to find out."

ztuggle@gannett.com

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