Trinity Valley Community College Ranch was a flurry of activity last week as the TVCC Beef Cattle Show Team prepared for their final competition at the Houston Livestock Show today. This show is the culmination of a year of working with Charolais calves.

Led by student leaders, Captain Brylea Ervin and Lieutenant Kade Bailey, the six-member team works the calves at least three days each week to get them in top form for the judges. Ervin, a native of Wichita Falls and Bailey, who hails from Fairfield, share the responsibilities of leading the team.

Because Charolais have what Ervin calls “terrible hair,” the team spends a great deal of time washing and blow-drying them. According to Ervin, this helps with their hair growth and makes them more attractive to the judges.

The “look” of a heifer is one of the factors that each animal is judged on. Judges will also be looking for heifers that have square bodies, a smooth gait and “look super feminine,” added Ervin. “Our heifers are beginning to get that look.”

Preparing the calves is truly a team effort. Unlike high school competitions, where a student works with the same animal all year, the members of the TVCC Beef Cattle Team work a different animal at each competition. This provides each team member with more experience and opportunities to hone their skills. It also means that everyone has an opportunity to do well in competition.

As the Captain, it is Ervin’s job to figure out how to match each animal with its new handler. Not a small task, as these animals can weigh as much as 2,400 pounds and, like people, may not get along with every team member.

She also takes care of loading the animals, making sure supplies are stocked and running the overall group.

“We want to make sure everyone has a chance to show good animals,” Ervin said. By switching from show to show “you never know which one you will get.”

As the Lieutenant for the team, Bailey is responsible for all of the roles when Ervin is not available.

Bailey wasn’t sure college was for him. His parents encouraged him to go to TVCC and the Beef Cattle Team gave him a sense of belonging. “Coming to TVCC has not been very stressful,” he said. “I found the show team and it helped me get out there. I have enjoyed it so much more.”

“It has been a fun experience,” he said because not all the learning has been in a traditional classroom. “Marc will bring you out here (the ranch) and teach you stuff about the other cows and doctoring calves,” and other useful skills.

Marc is Marc Robinson, the team’s faculty sponsor. He has taught at TVCC since 1997, has a master’s in agriculture from Sam Houston State University and is a representative to the Agricultural Consortium of Texas for the TVCC Agriculture and Ranch Management Department.

Robinson teaches nine classes, plus time with the team on the ranch. He has been the manager of the TVCC ranch since 2000. Marc worked on a cattle ranch in high school and junior college, worked his own cattle operation and has worked in the prison system for TDCJ.

In addition to the shows, Robinson takes the team to many other agriculture-related events to give them other experiences. They attend the East Texas State Fair Steer Show and the Henderson County Livestock Heifer and Steer Show, just to name a few.

“I want the show team to be as competitive as we can,” Robinson said. “We need to prepare to the best of our ability and then show to the best of our ability.”

Both Ervin and Bailey agree that being part of the team is so much more than showing cattle. The life lessons and friendships for everyone who steps out on the ranch are what they will most cherish.

For Ervin, this was her last show with the TVCC team as she will graduate in May. She has enjoyed working with all the team members: Bailey, Presley Griffith, Bailey Smith, Trailbe Goff and Cheyenne Delong.

“TVCC has been a great college for me. I am thankful I went here,” she said. “I am looking forward to my future and all of the things to come.”

Bailey will return next year as captain of the team, and he will continue working with the team.

“This is a fun experience,” Bailey said. “Brylea is always on top of everything, and if I have a question, I always ask her because I know she will have the answer. I know heading into next year, I need to work on getting organized better to help lead the team.”