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The student reporters of the KACU news team bring you the stories that affect our community.

Showing Heifers Is Family Tradition

(Photo by Emily Guajardo) Teri Hollis and her daughter, Ryli,8, prepare their heifers for the open angus show Monday, September 14, 2015 at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo.
(Photo by Emily Guajardo) Teri Hollis and her daughter, Ryli,8, prepare their heifers for the open angus show Monday, September 14, 2015 at the West Texas Fair & Rodeo.

The West Texas Fair and Rodeo brings hundreds of farmers and ranchers to the annual Angus show where their cattle are judged on body conformation and muscle structure.

Teri Hollis and her eight-year-old daughter, Ryli, were putting the finishing touches on their heifers Monday at the Taylor County Expo Center. They brushed their hair, kept them calm and relaxed before the start of the Angus show.

"We grew up in a family that my parents showed, my grandparents showed and it's kind of a family generational deal," Hollis said.  

This week the family is coming together to support Ryli as she shows her heifers, Betty and Daisy. The Hollis family understands the time and effort it takes to prepare these heifers to compete.

"It’s kind of a hurry up and wait game,” Hollis said.  You get here you wash them, walk them, feed them, then you let them lay around and rest as much as they will. They’re nervous it’s a new place, the wind has been blowing, the flags are whipping, there are people galore and they’re not used to it.”

Even as the last minutes begin to count down, Ryli remains calm and smiles as her pink cow earrings swing in the wind. Ryli hopes this year will be another win for the Hollis family.

"We won a big belt buckle last year jackpottin,” Hollis said.

“Two,” Ryli cut in with a laugh.

Mini Hereford, swine, steer, rabbits and sheep will all be shown later in the week at the West Texas Fair and Rodeo.