Baumstarck sisters enjoy showing together

WORLAND - Katie, 17, and Ellianna, 14, Baumstarck, both started in 4-H when they were 9 years old, and have been actively showing at the Washakie County Fair.

The siblings have enjoyed some sibling rivalry the past five years and this year enjoyed one final rival year in the sheep show with Katie Baumstarck stating she likely will take a break from sheep during the next 4-H season.

Katie said she got involved in 4-H in part because of her older siblings, Cody and Emily, and because it seemed like fun. She added that she loves to cook and sew and loves putting things on display.

This year at the fair, she was involved with food and nutrition - entering her cake donuts; and sheep, having one 4-H lamb and one FFA lamb.

She earned a purple ribbon for her doughnut and was honored as the outstanding food exhibitor in the 4-H senior division; she earned a blue ribbon in the FFA classroom, Ag 3 notebook for her horticulture notebook, a purple ribbon for her record book; and a purple for her agriscience fair board.

She was fifth in 4-H senior sheep showmanship and fifth in FFA sheep showmanship; second in her market class of Dorset lamb and second in her market class for Hampshire lamb.

In the past Katie has participated in fabric and fashion but this year she said she got too busy.

Ellianna Baumstarck said she got involved in 4-H because of her siblings and because "I really like sheep, I love to cook and sew. I also saw it as a chance to learn to do things I might not otherwise have a chance."

This year she was involved with food and nutrition, entering frosted cinnamon rolls; fabric and fashion with a cold shoulder top; and one breeding ewe and one market lamb for the sheep show.

In the sheep show, she earned first place in her class for a Suffolk market lamb and first for her Suffolk winter ewe born between Dec. 1, 2019 and Feb. 15, 2020.

Ellianna was the reserve champion showman in the 4-H intermediate breeding sheep showmanship category.

Her frosted cinnamon rolls won a purple ribbon. Her cold shoulder top also took a purple ribbon in fabric and fashion. Ellianna earned grand champion in construction in the intermediate division and champion construction in fashion revue in the intermediate division.

Working on this year's projects were not a lot different due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Baumstarcks said. The only main change was having the lambs tagged in the trailer instead of bringing them out.

They also worked on their projects at home instead of with other club members. Both are members of the Renegades, under the leadership of Erin Wright.

Their sheep projects they have worked on the longest, of course, Ellianna said she just figured out she wanted to enter frosted cinnamon rolls a few weeks ago. She said she has been working on doing things more independently in food and nutrition.

She added that she had considered making caramel rolls but they do not freeze as well and would not make a good state fair entry if they would have qualified, thus she settled on the frosted cinnamon rolls.

Katie said she knew she wanted to do something fried this year in order to improve that skill. "I've been baking my whole life," she said, noting she has learned from her mother and grandmother.

"I love making yeast bread," Katie said, but she also realized she needed to challenge herself and her record books would look better making something new each year than trying to improve on the same thing each year.

Ellianna added that she also likes to challenge herself and appreciates hearing the judges remarks in competition and uses them to improve her skills.

SHEEP

While the Baumstarcks have a commercial sheep herd, the Baumstarcks purchase the lambs they will show at the county fair each year.

Katie said she finds it fun to show sheep but noted that her FFA lamb is "stubborn."

Ellianna, prior to the sheep show last week, said she really likes the chances of her breeding ewe, noting she walks better than her market lamb. Her market lamb "has an attitude," she said.

As for working with their sheep, they said they got up every morning at 6 to walk them along the canal road getting the lambs halter trained. They would also practice setting them up and walking them without the lead. As fair got closer they worked the sheep "more like an actual show."

As for the livestock sale, the Baumstarcks said they have had no problems selling their animals. The biggest problem for Katie is being the center of attention for the few minutes during the bidding process. But, she added, the more she has done it the more she has enjoyed it.

As for the sibling rivalry, they said it is more of a silent rivalry and that since they work their lambs together it is fun to see how the lambs and each other do in the show.

As for encouraging others to be active in 4-H and FFA Ellianna said 4-H is more fun when there are more people involved. She noted a decline in fabric and fashion numbers over the past few years.

"It's a lot of fun when there is so much competition. It's a good experience and I don't regret it. I love to do it," Ellianna said.

Katie said she likes being a member of Chief Washakie FFA and has served as an officer, including secretary this year.

She hopes that when youth see her showing in her FFA jacket that they will want to learn more about it and become active in FFA.