By the time Brylee Moorehead arrives at the showgrounds, she has already spent hours caring for the animal at the end of her lead. Show day begins with loading the trailer and cattle, then washing, conditioning, brushing, and blowing out their coats, making sure every detail is ready before it is time to walk into the ring. Preparation is part of what Brylee enjoys most.
“I just enjoy being around animals, especially cows, and I just enjoy the part of getting to groom and all the day of the show,” she said.
Her love for cattle began when she was young. Brylee grew up around agriculture and animals, took a break from showing for a while, and eventually found her way back. Now, she spends her time working with her cattle, preparing for shows, and learning more about the animals she has always enjoyed being around.
Her family has raised chickens and spent years around agriculture, but cattle have always captured Brylee’s attention differently. No matter how many animals she encounters, Brylee’s mother, Bethany Moorehead, said Brylee eventually finds her way back to cattle.
That childhood hobby is now a responsibility she takes real pride in.
“She’ll be bringing me entry forms and stuff to these contests,” Bethany said. “She’s like, ‘Mom, I want to go show.’”
Once Brylee decides to participate, she follows the process through to the end. She turns in the paperwork, prepares her cattle, and shows up ready to work.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” Brylee said.
Through 4-H and livestock showing, Brylee has learned the importance of a work ethic.
“It’s taught me how you have to work for a lot of things you need and want,” she said.
Livestock judging has taught her what judges look for in the show ring, while the shows themselves give her opportunities to meet people, communicate, and solve problems independently.
As Brylee moves through high school, Bethany has begun thinking about where those experiences could lead. Brylee will be a senior before they know it, and her mother hopes her involvement in agriculture and livestock will open doors to scholarships, career opportunities, and perhaps a future in the animal industry.
For now, though, Brylee has already reached a milestone she is proud to carry with her.
On Aug. 1, she earned her first banner at the Here’s the Beef Show.
“I finally got my first banner,” Brylee said.
The award came after months of work with the heifer she chose to show. Brylee and her family separated the heifer from the herd along with a couple of other young cattle, and Brylee spent time halter-breaking her and teaching her to walk comfortably while following a lead.
“She works really hard,” Bethany said. “This heifer that she’s showing — she’s done all the work.”
Her parents help when they can, but Bethany said Brylee deserves the credit for the effort she puts in day after day.
Brylee understands that showing is not simply about walking into a ring and hoping for a ribbon. The work starts well before show day and requires consistency, patience, and a willingness to keep going.
One thing people might be surprised to learn about cattle, Brylee said, was some of the very lessons she has experienced herself.
“If you’re going to do something with them, it’s going to take a lot of hard work and effort to get there,” she said.
That mindset is one reason she enjoys 4-H so much. Brylee’s father grew up around agriculture, so introducing her to livestock felt natural.
The family’s cattle are located at Bethany’s in-laws’ farm near the Lincoln-Franklin County line, and Brylee has found encouragement through 4-H and FFA programs in both counties. Bethany said those programs give young people opportunities to participate, meet others, and develop transferable skills.
“To me, it’s all kind of like building blocks… it teaches them deadlines and things that you gotta do to make things happen,” she shared.
For Brylee, the community has become another part of the experience. She gets to spend time with other young people who share her interests while learning to handle situations independently and solve problems on her own.
The cattle may have brought Brylee back to 4-H, but the experience continues to help her become more confident, responsible, and comfortable taking ownership of the things she wants to accomplish.
Her love for animals may even lead her to a career in agriculture someday. For now, though, Brylee is happiest doing what she has always enjoyed — spending time with her cattle, grooming them, preparing them for the show, and taking pride in her work. GN
