Bethany Drafall, 14, Monroe, talks about her best friend Buddy, a 1-year-old short-horned steer. Drafall is a member of the Next Generation 4-H club and has been showing cattle for six years. She bought Buddy in October and since has spent every day taking care of him and getting him ready to show. Drafall recently won the Junior Nationals Reserve Champion Market Steer award with Buddy. In addition to showing beef, she also shows pigs and sheep.
For the month of July, the Times has chosen to highlight county 4-H competitors in its Best Friends section.
Best Friends is a weekly feature designed to highlight a local resident and his or her pets. To suggest
someone for the series, contact Marissa Weiher, photographer, at photo@themonroetimes.com.
Describe Buddy’s personality.
He’s calm and collected, kind of like a person.
What do you and Buddy like to do together?
I have to wash him every day since he’s white so he doesn’t stain. I had to halter break him so he’ll walk with me and stop when I tell him to. I have to clean his bedding. When I show him, I have to trim, comb and style his hair. He’s like a best friend.
What has it been like having Buddy in your life?
It’s kind of like watching a person grow up. I don’t notice as much because I’m with him every day. I’m going to try to sell him at the State Fair. I’ll be sad and I’ll miss him a lot. I’ve gone a lot of places with him.
