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DeAnn (Wolkow) Kruempel
The Little Leather Halter, Part I
She dropped her name in the hat, then dreamed of winning. She would be the best animal owner ever. Every day she would haul fresh water and food. She would pet and brush the creature and teach her to follow the lead. To stand still and tall. Maybe, just maybe she would win a purple ribbon. Donald won purple ribbons on livestock every year. How fun it would be to add the top place ribbons to her collection, just like her brother.
The drawing was the idea of the 4-H leader. His family had recently begun to build a herd
of Ayrshire cattle, but unforeseen circumstances required a move to another state. One young heifer calf was to be a 4-H project. He decided to give her to one of his club members, chosen by way of a drawing of those who wanted to take on such a venture and had the approval of their parents.
Days went by and the girl nearly forgot about the drawing when one evening Dad
answered the phone. “Deloris won? Well, that’s wonderful. Thank you. Yes, we will come and pick up the calf. Tomorrow?”
The man helped load the heifer onto the gray pickup on which Deloris and Dad had
installed the side boards. He shook hands with Dad, then turned to Deloris. “I was happy to draw your name. You work hard on all your projects. You are kind and patient. I know
you will take good care of Bess, and I wish you the best of luck.”
A few days later the girl accompanied her father to the farm supply store. They looked at
the halters on display. There were different sizes of cattle halters, some of rope, some leather. Dad reached for the smallest one, made of narrow strips of soft brown leather. Deloris smiled. Thus began her adventures in the care and feeding of livestock.
It wasn’t long and Bess, wearing her halter, walked happily beside her proud owner.
Deloris taught her to stand, head held high and with hooves in perfect alignment, just as Donald did with his bigger beef steer. The young heifer grew and show time drew near at Achievement Days, the Kingsbury County Fair. Don taught Deloris how to shampoo the animal and brush her short white and brown coat until it gleamed. They even scrubbed and fluffed the tail to poufy white softness.
The big day came and Deloris led Bess into the show ring. The girl was nervous and
scared until she saw the proud smiles on Mom and Dad’s faces. She grasped Bess’s lead chain close as the animal stood, tall and straight. She watched the judge and made sure he always had a clear view of Bess. Soon the judge announced the awards. Bess got a blue ribbon.
Glad that it was over, Deloris started to lead her heifer back to the pens when she heard
an announcement over the loudspeaker. “Will the following exhibitors please bring their cattle into the show ring immediately for the Dairy Showmanship competition?” Deloris could not believe it when she heard her name announced.
Back in the ring, the judge directed the competitors as they demonstrated their showman
skills. It was similar to the previous class except for one thing: each person had to switch cattle with someone else. Deloris’ heart pounded when a much older boy handed her the halter to his much bigger Holstein cow. He grabbed Bess’s halter and frowned down at the small girl, obviously questioning her ability. But she petted the big black and white neck and whispered softly. The cow’s head lifted and her hooves aligned perfectly.
Meanwhile, just ahead, the older boy jerked the chain on Bess’s halter. She shook her
head and stepped forward. He nudged her front hoof to align it with the other. The front hoof moved into place at the same time as a back foot moved out. He huffed and bent to realign the back foot. Suddenly, a fluffy white pouf, smelling of more than soap, swatted him in the face!
At last, the judge announced the showmanship winners, “…a purple ribbon to Deloris
Wolkow with the Ayrshire heifer.”
That night, with another dream in her heart, the young girl looped the little leather halter
over a nail in the barn.
DeAnn Kruempel grew up on a farm near De Smet, SD, the sixth child of Harrison and Mabel Wolkow. She attended school at Erwin and De Smet and later lived in North Dakota and Iowa.
The author worked in school and public libraries for more than 30 years. Her column has run in a growing number of Midwest newspapers for five years. Each year the author publishes the stories. She has also written a historical fiction series, “Promises to Keep.” Her ten books are available on Amazon. Signed copies can be purchased at the Harrison County Welcome Center. Contact Kruempel at deannkruempelauthor@gmail.com.
