Behind the "Curtin" of Winning

The lights are bright, and the shavings are green in Freedom Hall as the 2024 Supreme Junior Heifer is selected. The audience was on the edge of their seats, with that nervous and excited feeling in their stomachs as they waited to see what heifer judges Ryan and Jennifer Callahan picked as champion. The Callahans walked down the ring, looking left and right for the grand champion before approaching Sloane Curtin with the special slap! 

“What a night I won’t forget. I don’t even know how to explain my emotions right now,” said Curtin.

Curtin grew up in Oxford, Iowa, and is no stranger to the show ring, especially NAILE’s green shavings, which hold a special place in her heart.

“This place has always been so special to me, ever since my grandpa and I started coming here. He used to come all the time to watch us on the green shavings when we were growing up,” said Curtin. “While he is no longer with us, it is so special to me that I know he is still watching us and cheering us on.”

She has been showing since she was five years old and said showing livestock runs in her blood.

“It is a family tradition for us to show here because we have been in and out of that show ring for so many generations. It has become a family ritual for us,” Curtin said.

One of the toughest parts of showing is picking the right animal from the beginning. Curtin’s winning heifer has been with her since day one.

“When she was younger, she kind of started by not placing high in her class and kind of standing in the middle, maybe even fourth place, when she was younger,” Curtin said. “Now that she is winning all over the place, it's starting to change everything." 

By the end of the day, all the hard work, dedication, and long hours spent in the barn with those animals are worth it when you come out on top.