Victories honor great-grandfather

Participation in 4-H is often a family affair.

That’s how Levi Garringer and Braxton Bell got involved in the organization. On Tuesday, they netted some big wins that left their family emotional.

A little less than a year after the death of Levi’s and Braxton’s great-grandfather Larry Phillips, they claimed three victories and a runner-up in the 4-H pygmy and meat goat show Tuesday at the Jay County Fair.

“We do it just to have fun,” said Levi, who took home the market doe grand champion and repeated with the wether grand champion. “I also do it to keep my family tradition going. I think that’s very important.”

That family tradition started with their great-grandmother Nellie Phillips, who was involved for about 30 years. She competed in 4-H for nine years before getting married — back then marriage made you ineligible to compete — before serving as an adult on the council as a secretary, the horse and pony leader and being in charge of the 4-H kitchen.

That history then got passed down through the next two generations before getting to Levi and Braxton.

Braxton Bell leads a heavy weight wether during the beginner showmanship portion of the 4-H pygmy and meat goat show on Tuesday. Bell won the contest by showing his goat that was named the wether reserve grand champion. (The Commercial Review/Andrew Balko)

 

Larry didn’t get the opportunity to participate in the organization growing up due to being in a family with 11 kids, but helped Neillie and supported the following generations who got the opportunities he wasn’t able to have.

“He would have been so proud of the kids,” Nellie said. “He really wanted the kids to succeed so much. 

“Growing up, he didn’t get to do that. There were 11 kids in his family so he didn’t get to do all that stuff, so he totally wanted the kids, the grandkids and the great-grandkids to succeed and he was proud of them.”

Nellie and grandmother Angela Moeller were flooded with emotions sitting in the bleachers of the Show Arena after Braxton won the beginner showmanship competition. He also had the reserve grand champion wether, following only his cousin Levi.

Braxton said it was difficult losing his great-grandfather, who he lived with, but that it felt good winning Tuesday’s contest.

“I’m trying to respect him and do what he taught me to be kind, respectful and just try my best,” Levi said. “It feels great because I’m just trying to make my family proud.”