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  • Lindsey Harris hugs her lamb at the Stephens County Jr. Livestock show Wednesday. Harris said she loves raising lambs because it gives her something to do with her family, which includes sister Leigha Harris who also competes. Megan Bristow

    Livestock

  • Leigha Harris kneels down by her lamb at the Stephens County Junior Livestock Show Wednesday. Harris had just finished shearing and brushing her lamb. Megan Bristow/The Duncan Banner

    Livestock
February 28, 2013

Showing lambs allows for family time

Megan Bristow The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN —  

Hours before the competition would begin Wednesday morning, sisters Lindsey, 7th grade, and Leigha Harris, 5th grade, were preparing for the show, along with other young livestock enthusiasts, by shearing and brushing their sheep in the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center arena.
The Harris sisters, both residents of Central High, have been competing with sheep for three years but have additional prior experience in the arena from showing pigs.
“When they were old enough to start showing sheep and showing in the spring and the fall, they started showing sheep instead of pigs,” Mother Shonda Harris said.
The sisters have decided sheep is their livestock forte having given up showing pigs three years ago and not making any plans to switch or add any additional animals in the future.
“I like the wool because it feels good,” Lindsey Harris said.
“It is kind of fluffy,” Leigha Harris said.
While both sisters said they enjoy the competition, they said raising the lambs gives them another thing to do with their families, which they said is their favorite part about raising lambs.
With their lambs’ mother owned by the family, the Harris sisters have raised these animals up since they were born. With Lindsey’s lamb covered in a camouflage blanket and Leigha’s lamb covered by a pink zebra blanket, the handling of these lambs reflects upon the love that these girls have raised the lambs with.
“They take about an hour and half to two hours a night taking care of these lambs even with ball games and everything else,” Shonda Harris said. “It is a lot of work.”
Both sisters attend school in Central High and enjoy softball and basketball. Lindsey also participates in track. 
In past competitions, both sisters have won awards for reserve breed and showmanship.

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