The brother-sister duo of Eric and Lizzie Schafer know how to make their hard work pay off with successes, both in and out of the show ring. Their parents, Aaron and Sue Schafer, have raised the young livestock enthusiasts to be well-rounded, showing multiple species of livestock, participating in public speaking,livestock judging and other life skill contests through FFA, 4-H and their junior breed associations. Here’s your chance to learn more about 16-year- old Eric, and 15-year-old Lizzie from Owaneco, Illinois, and what they enjoy doing On & Off the Circuit...
Lizzie Schafer
Species and breeds of livestock you show:
I show Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Simmental Cattle, and I used to show market lambs.
What is your favorite show and why?
My favorite show is the North American International Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Kentucky. I love this show because it brings back so many great memories with friends.
What is your favorite show memory and why:
My favorite show memory has by far been when I got to work the show ring with Miss American Angus, Keegan Cassady, at the 2017 National Junior Angus Show as an Illinois Angus Princess.
Tell us about your all-time favorite show animal:
My all-time favorite show animal is most definitely Hope. She is a half-blood Simmental with a white baldy head. I had to carve a pumpkin in the shape and color of Hope and post printed off pictures of her all over my dad’s room and truck to get her; and I have to say, she was definitely worth it!
Do you have anything you keep in your show box for good luck or any good luck rituals on show day?
I have some 4-leaf clovers that I keep in the show box for show days.
Least favorite show-day or show-barn activity:
My least favorite show-barn activity is most definitely blowing out cattle!
What do you like to do outside of the barn/show ring:
Outside of the barn and show ring, I enjoy snapchatting friends, assisting younger kids with their learning, and helping anyone that needs help.
Favorite book or author: Insurgent
Favorite movie: The Greatest Showman
Favorite food: Air Heads Extremes
What are your college or career goals:
My college goal is to attend a university where I will judge on the livestock team. I will then transfer to another university where I will get my Dr. degree and go on to help kids with Autism.
Do you have a quote or motto you like to follow? If so, what is it?
My quote that I like to follow is “Your smile is your logo, your personality is your business card, and the way you make other people feel is your trademark.”
Who is someone you’d like to thank for helping you succeed in the showring:
Someone that I would like to thank for helping me succeed in the showring is my Grandma Gayle. No matter what she is always there for me cheering me on in the stands and she does whatever she can to help my brother and I be successful.
Eric Schafer
Species and breeds of livestock you show:
Angus and Hereford cattle, Market lambs, and Hogs of all breeds
What is your favorite show and why?
The National Western Stock Show is my favorite show of the year because it brings so many high-quality cattle to one place and you are able to see the history and the heritage that has brought the livestock industry to where we are today.
What is your favorite show memory and why:
Winning reserve champion owned heifer at the 2014 National Junior Angus Show. This is my favorite show memory because it represents months and months of hard work and time put in, in the barn with my family and friends accomplish something I had only dreamed of. It was even more special that the show was so close to home that my whole family was there to see it and share in a very successful and fun week.
Tell us about your all-time favorite show animal:
Even though I’ve been blessed with lots of great animals my favorite show animal hands down was my heifer that was reserve at the NJAS in 2014, but she would be my favorite regardless of the wins. Lady Diana was her name and she was just so fun to be around in the barn every day and made me want to get up early every morning. She had a great personality and always knew how to put on a show in the ring.
Do you have anything you keep in your show box for good luck or any good luck rituals on show day?
Nothing really particularly that I keep in my box but I always have one show halter that I make sure to put on my favorite heifer for luck.
Least favorite show-day or show-barn activity:
I honestly don’t really have a least favorite activity as cliché as that sounds. I love it all, from washing, to fitting, to blowing and love to see the end result of the blood, sweat and tears you put into an animal to get it to the ring.
What do you like to do outside of the barn/show ring:
I really like to golf because it really helps me to relax, but by far my favorite activity is livestock judging and even just studying livestock in general whether they be show hogs or just feed lot calves and appreciating them for what they are.
Favorite book or author: Veronica Roth
Favorite movie: Hacksawridge
Favorite food: Pizza
What are your college or career goals:
In the future I’d like to go to college and get a degree in marketing, animal science, or nutrition and hopefully get a masters and a Phd. While in college I hope to participate on the livestock judging team and afterwards hopefully coach a judging team. I would then like to come back to the family farm.
Motto you like to follow?
Pressure makes diamonds- General George S Patton
Who is someone you’d like to thank for helping you succeed in the showring:
This is an extremely hard question for me because there are so many people that have helped me throughout my show career and there is no way I could name them all. From my parents to friends like Andrew Livingston as well as the Zwilling’s and the Anderson family, but I’d really like just to say thank you to everyone that has helped because there are so many great people and friends that I have been blessed with to teach me and guide me throughout my life, thank you.
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