By Maggie Edwards 

St. Clair County’s Harper Gurley credits the livestock show industry for her love and passion for agriculture. 

Her dedication was on display during the Jr. Livestock Expo (JLE) in March. The Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance coordinate the annual event, which includes beef, swine and dairy shows and is held in conjunction with the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) in Montgomery.

“One of the most important parts about showing is the connections you make,” said Gurley, a senior at Pell City High School who shows dairy cattle and swine. “I’ve made so many friends and developed relationships that will help me in the future. Being with fellow showmen in the showring and barn makes unforgettable memories.” 

Those precious moments included time spent with the 188 JLE exhibitors who showed 388 animals this year. 

Gurley attributes her showing success to Pell City FFA advisers Laycie Bunt, Ben Castleberry and Ashton Gibson. 

“This is one of the best parts of my job,” said Castleberry, a past swine showman. “The swine industry doesn’t have a large commercial presence in Alabama, but it’s a great project for young people to get started. It’s rewarding to see my students work hard and learn life skills.” 

Castleberry said self-discipline and responsibility are requirements for all showmen. 

“We raise good livestock in Alabama, but the main thing we do is raise great young people,” Castleberry said. “The focus is livestock, but it’s also the development of our youth.” 

Cullman County’s Rusty Roden agreed. His son, Evan, has been showing beef cattle and sheep for nearly a decade. 

“When kids are young, parents do a lot of the work, but when they get older, you hand over a lot of it,” Rusty said. “I’m proud of Evan stepping up this year to care for his heifer and sheep. He does the majority of his project himself with me assisting. As a parent, that’s what you want to see — a child growing and learning.” 

As a junior showman, Evan said preparing for JLE is time consuming but well worth it. 

“This show is one of my favorites,” said Evan, a senior at Holly Pond High School. “Going back over the years, I’ve learned to grow along with these shows, and I have learned you can do whatever it takes to achieve your dreams.” 

Those dreams are made possible because of incredible sponsors who contribute to the success of JLE, said Federation President Jimmy Parnell. 

“This is a big deal for those kids,” Parnell said. “These are lifetime memories and connections they are making. The young people in the ring are the next generation of the agricultural industry.”