A group of children line up, eyeing a set of calves stationed inside the arena.
At the drop of a hat, a strategic free-for-all ensues. Children dart across the arena, chasing after calves and attempting to coax them to the center—the winning spot.
This event is called the calf scramble, where competitors are eligible for scholarships and invaluable livestock and agriculture industry experience.
Winning third place, 14-year-old Ryan Muller entered Fort Worth’s February Calf Scramble as the youngest competitor in his group and aspires to continue his success at the next competition.
“My favorite part is just being able to go out there, make new friends, and have fun,” Ryan said, “and seeing what it’s like out on the ring.”
Starting in third grade, Ryan’s introduction to livestock competitions came through showing cattle.
From these initial experiences, Ryan gained the insight and discipline needed to compete. Skills such as maintaining an animal’s appearance, training it and developing proper showmanship are essential to the craft.
Ryan’s mother, Janet Muller, said Ryan’s development of the discipline needed to compete helped mold a strong character within him.
“I think it’s important to know how to fail, you can get a better idea of how to succeed by failing first,” Janet Muller said. “We’ve got to learn how to be a team, and we also have to learn how to cheer other people on whenever it’s not us who win because we want people to cheer for us.”
Moreover, introducing this lifestyle to her kids not only instilled discipline but educated them about where their goods come from.
“It’s important that kids understand where their food comes from, where their clothing comes from,” Janet said, “and also learning how to take care of something bigger than themselves and to put other people first.”
“I see that a lot in the agro world,” Janet Muller added, “there’s just a lot of big-hearted people who care.”
The physical demands of the competition initially scared Janet Muller, but as time progressed, she trusted and remained confident in Ryan’s abilities and character.
Ryan too initially fostered doubts about his performance.
“I felt nervous, and I felt that I wasn’t going to catch anything – I felt like the calf was going to try and run me over,” Ryan said. “I felt like everybody would be a little more experienced than and I’d just be standing there in the dust and not be able to have a chance.”
Nonetheless, Ryan placed third in the competition and received a $500 sponsorship to continue his efforts at future competitions.
Expressing gratitude for his sponsor, Kyley DeVoe, Ryan said the awarded funds allow him to maintain his calf: Ashes.
Ashes made an appearance with Ryan following the Forth Worth Competition at Ag Day in Littlefield. At the event, Ryan educated fourth-graders about his responsibilities and livestock showing practices and let students pet the calf.
Between the enriching experiences and awards, Ryan additionally receives immense familial and county support.
“Brandon Albus is our county agent here in Lamb County, so he was the one who got (Ryan) going,” Janet Muller said. “We also have many, many friends and family who knew he was competing and watched him on television and were amazing.”
For now, Ryan said preparation for the next Fort Worth Competition in February is underway, and he plans to train with the animals his family owns at home.
“Just watching him grow and have little successes add up into big successes has just made me very proud of him,” Janet Muller said.