Local siblings prep to show goat, lamb projects

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  • Dawson and Ellie Grissett are ready to show their goats, Cletus and Haggard, at the 2020 Freestone County Fair this month. Photo by Mitchell Pate
    Dawson and Ellie Grissett are ready to show their goats, Cletus and Haggard, at the 2020 Freestone County Fair this month. Photo by Mitchell Pate
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The Freestone County Show is fast approaching, and siblings Ellie and Dawson Grissett are ready to show their projects.

Ellie is a 9th grader at Fairfield High School and Dawson is a 7th grader at Fairfield Junior High. They have both been showing since the 3rd grade, so this is Ellie’s seventh show and Dawson’s fifth show.

Ellie and Dawson have shown heifers, goats, and lambs at the county show. This year, they are both showing a lamb and goat. Both the market lamb and goat show are scheduled for June 18.

The goat and lamb projects take about four months to prepare for the county show. To get the goats and lambs ready, Ellie and Dawson help each other out along the way.

Their animals have to be fed at the same time every morning and evening, in addition to exercising and working them. The exercise and work ensures they will set up and brace for the judge at the show. The animals have to be washed and cleaned, in addition to keeping their pens cleaned.

Ellie shows through the Fairfield FFA this year. Prior to this year, she has shown through the Fairfield Junior FFA.

She showed the Grand Champion goat last year and has made the sale every year.

Ellie has received 1st place in her class multiple years.

“Showing animals teaches me a lot about responsibility. The animals depend on me and I learn how to take care of them,” Ellie said. “I love our county fair because it is smaller than the major shows. I love that we usually get to stay all week and take care of our animals and hang out with our friends.”

Dawson shows through the Fairfield Junior FFA. Dawson has made the sale every year at the county fair.

“I learn a lot about responsibility,” Dawson said. “I have to wake up early so I feed my animals at the same time. I have to exercise and take care of my animals too.”

Ellie is also a member of the greenhand chapter conducting team, a greenhand creed speaker, and on the Ag communication team. She is also a cheerleader and plays volleyball and competes in powerlifting. Dawson plays football for the Eagles.

Ellie and Dawson are both active in the Fairfield Young Farmers as well.

Besides showing at the Freestone County Fair, the siblings also show at major shows including Ft. Worth, Houston, State Fair of Texas, and Heart of Texas.

“We just had two heifers at our Rocking G Ranch,” Ellie said. “We are so excited that we get to raise our own heifers and show them at the county fair next year.”

Proud parents are Michael & Melissa Grissett.