By Johnny Morgan
LSU AgCenter
For some young people, even the thought of taking control of a large animal is beyond belief.
But for two south Louisiana youth, getting started early has been the key to their success in livestock shows.
That’s not to say that their experience has been smooth. Their hard work was on display during the recent combined LSU AgCenter Southeast and South-Central District Livestock Show at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales.
LSU AgCenter 4-H agent in Livingston Parish Mikala Davenport said Levi Lockhart, a seventh grader at North Corbin Junior High School, has been serious about his 4-H projects from the beginning.
“The spirit that Levi brings to all of his 4-H activities also shows in the work he does with his animals," she said.
Levi said being around livestock when he was younger gave him a unique start in the livestock show business.
“One time, when I was 9, I went to a parish fair and I saw this pre-K kid showing, and I thought, ‘It might not be too hard. I want to try it,’ ” he said.
It takes some extra planning for a preteen to juggle school and caring for a show animal, he said.
“It takes me about an hour a day for three cows,” he said.
Levi said he started his livestock show career showing a Brangus heifer, but now he is a Santa Gertrudis man.
At the recent district show, Levi won reserve champion and Louisiana-bred reserve champion for his Star 5 Santa Gertrudis heifer.
Levi said he hasn’t made his mind up yet on what he wants to be when he grows up, but he’s pretty sure it will involve agriculture.