Saturday, October 11, 2008

All's 'fair' for Alamo's Monte

4-H member earns honors at New Mexico State Fair

Argen Duncan El Defensor Chieftain Reporter, aduncan@dchieftain.com

A Socorro County girl counted two sheep as not-so-wild and wooly wins at the New Mexico State Fair this year.

Deanae Monte, 12, of Alamo 4-H Club, won Champion Western Whiteface and Reserve Champion Mutton Cross during her second year showing at the fair. Deanae said she felt excited and happy when she learned of her win.

The state fair is "scary, nervous and exciting," Deanae said. She plans to compete there again next year.

This year, Deanae raised eight lambs, two pigs and two goats. Besides the state fair, she showed at the Socorro County Fair and the Navajo Nations Fair.

The girl's older brother and sister were involved in 4-H before she was.

"That's how I got interested in it," she said. "And my grandma on my mom's side, she raised sheep, too."

To raise champion animals, Deanae exercises each at a walk or a run for 30 minutes a day.

Deanae's favorite parts of caring for the animals are walking them and setting them up in the proper show ring stance. Her least favorite parts are showing and bringing the animals home when they're not big enough for the ring.

For four years, Deanae has participated in regular 4-H. She was a booster in the program for four years previously.

"I just want to thank my dad, my mom and mostly my brother that helped me and have been there for me," she said.

Deanae is the daughter of Clayton and Virgie Monte, and her brother is Tyrone, 23.

E-mail this story Printer-friendly version