Award presented to Balos during fair show

Kay and Terry Balo received a 4-H Ambassador Award on Sept. 30 at the Coshocton County Fair. Sheila and Scott Graves presented them with the award during the beef breeding show, feeder calf and market beef show. Josie Sellers | Beacon

COSHOCTON – Elizabeth Sampsel started out showing rabbits, but wanted to work with a bigger animal. The switch brought her to the junior fair’s beef breeding show, feeder calf and market beef show on Sept. 30 at the Coshocton County Fair.

“It’s going good and has turned out a lot better than I expected this year,” Sampsel said. “The hardest part was getting him to put on weight and then he ended up putting on too much weight.”

She was waiting to go in the show ring and so were Jayden and Kaytee Rice. Their feeder calves were born on their grandma and grandpa’s farm.

“Their grandparents George and Bonnie Clark raise and breed cattle,” said Carrie Hamlett, mother of the girls. “It’s a family affair for us.”

Hamlett grew up showing animals and can’t imagine not having her children do it.

“I don’t know any other way to raise my kids,” she said. “We don’t have kids to raise livestock. We have livestock to raise kids. It teaches them morals, values and responsibility. They show pigs too and practiced every night. A lot goes into doing this.”

Elizabeth Sampsel, a member of Ridgewood High School’s FFA, is pictured preparing to show her beef feeder calf on Sept. 30 at the Coshocton County Fair. Josie Sellers | Beacon

The show also is a family event for the Balo family. Terry Balo was so busy helping his grandkids, he didn’t even realize the announcers were talking about his family when they shared information about the person receiving a 4-H Ambassador Award.

“I don’t think there is anything better than programs like 4-H, FFA, and Boy Scouts,” Balo said. “They teach kids how to win, the benefits of losing, and how to talk with people. We need more kids in these kinds of programs that help them learn about responsibility and leadership.”

Terry and his wife Kay have supported the Coshocton County 4-H program for nearly half a century. They’ve contributed their time and knowledge for the previous beef preview shows, beef key leaders, 4-H advisory committees, helping with beef evaluations, have made donations toward the junior fair beef program, and have been advisors for Keene Jr. Farmers 4-H Club.

They have sold beef cattle to many youth in Coshocton and surrounding counties. With their knowledge in the beef industry, they have helped teach many young people over the years to learn how to care for and show their beef projects. Terry and Kay also have taught the values of 4-H and farming to their three children and five grandchildren.

“I was totally shocked (by the award),” Kay said. “It was very much appreciated. I had no idea. We just like helping kids.”

Terry and Kay own and operate Echo Hills Farm where they raise Maine Anjou Cattle and hay.

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