Cleary family demonstrates tradition of showing cattle
By Joy Carter
Forty-five years ago Charles Cleary began showing cattle at the young age of five. Little did he know that years later he would have three daughters that would also share in this family pastime. Stephanie, Melissa and Ashley began showing in 1994 after the family moved to Georgia from Mississippi.
The Cleary family resides in Tift County, Ga., near Brookfield. The family’s cattle herd consists of purebred Maine Anjou cattle, along with commercial cattle. Since the girls started showing they have kept show heifers for breeding and the herd has been built over the years using A.I. and selective natural breeding. The Cleary girls have been showing their “own” club calves for the past three to four years.
The Cleary family works hard at showing and their winnings prove it. The family has placed in the top five for steers in the GCCPA Points System for the past three years and Ashley was number two in the points challenge in 2005. The family was also awarded the Platinum Breeder from GCCPA in 2005.
During the National Junior Maine Anjou Show the family received Grand Champion Bred and Owned Prospect Steer in 2004 and 2005 as well as Reserve Champion Bred and Owned Senior Heifer Calf in 2005 and 2006.
Showmanship skills run throughout the family as well. Ashley won both steer and heifer showmanship classes at the Georgia State Show in 2005 and received the Donald C. Griffith Memorial Scholarship for winning steer showmanship. Melissa won heifer showmanship her senior year at the Georgia State Livestock Show and received a scholarship too..
All three of the Cleary girls have been very active in FFA in Tift County. Stephanie served as the 2000 State FFA Vice President and Melissa was the 2001-2002 South Region FFA Star Farmer. Both Stephanie and Melissa have received their American FFA Degree. Ashley has been active in several Career Development Events through her years in the FFA along with serving as an officer for the Tift County FFA Chapter.
Today, Stephanie is an accountant for Cryolife Corporation in Kennesaw, Ga. and Melissa is pursuing her degree in Communication Disorders at Valdosta State University. Ashley, the youngest Cleary girl who recently graduated, plans to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and pursue a degree in physical therapy.
Of course nothing could happen without the support of their mom, Jennifer.
Together, the Cleary family is not only making a name for themselves
in the club calf industry but they are also making family memories to
last a lifetime.
