How does a 10-year-old boy follow up a first outing at the Missouri State Fair with a third placing in a class of goats? He diversifies and enters goats, cattle and sheep.

You’ll need to check the barn during the summer to catch up with Trenton Edwards of Wright City, Mo. “I prefer to be with the animals than at school or home,” the Rolling Stones 4-H member says.

Watch the young man work with his animals or exhibit in the show ring, and there is no denying Trenton has a passion for livestock. A lot of preparation goes into getting ready for jackpot shows, county fairs, national livestock exhibitions and the Missouri State Fair.

BLOW IT OUT: Washing and blowing out show heifers is all part of making cattle show-ready. Trenton Edwards takes time to blow out his Hereford heifer on a hot summer day.

Prepare for the ring
It is a hot, muggy Missouri summer day. Still, Trenton is tending to his animals. He has a goat herd of seven does, five kids and one buck, along with his three heifers — one Simmental-Angus cross and two purebred Herefords — and two market lambs.

Since school ended, he is at the barn every morning by 7 a.m. washing his heifers, sheep and lambs. There is a cooler in the corner in case he gets too hot. “I just stand by it,” Trenton says with a smile. Then it is back to work, filling water buckets and making sure the animals are comfortable and cool.

“He’ll spend all of his day out here if we let him,” his father, Trent, says. “We always know where to find him.”

Trenton spends time walking his animals, but admits he takes pride in working the goats and lambs. “I can do these on my own,” he explains. “I don’t need Dad around for them.” They are smaller than his heifers, easier to handle.

But size does not deter Trenton from getting the job done.

Recently, when he was trying to get a heifer to the washing area, there was a struggle. “It took me 10 minutes to get her to move 10 feet to the wash rack,” he says. “There was no one behind her to get her moving, and she was not going.” They both made it, though.

Trenton says raising and showing livestock teaches him patience. “I have to get the lambs and goats on the trimming stand by myself,” he says, “and sometimes they don’t want to go. I just have to keep working at it.”

His dad finds the time he spends with the livestock pays off in the show ring. “The more you work with the animal, the more they respond to you,” Trent says. And Trenton has been working for years.

Inside the shows
Don’t let his age fool you — the Warren County youth is no novice.

At 6, Trenton was inside the ring leading around a heifer at a jackpot show. By age 7, he was buying and entering goats in livestock shows across the state. This year, he ventures for the first time into the Sheep Pavilion at the Missouri State Fair.

Over the last four years Trenton competed in 11 shows, taking him to states like Illinois, Colorado and Kentucky as well as his home state of Missouri. He has won some and lost some, been named top showman and passed over. Still, Trenton says it is fun.

“I get to travel,” he says, “and hang out with my family.” Trenton has an extensive support group — his mom, Amanda Ingram; along with stepdad Rickie Ingram; Trent and stepmom Hillary Edwards; and his siblings, Ellyie and Easton Ingram. Over his 4-H show years, he has made new friends and found mentors in the livestock business.

Like an audio Rolodex, Trenton recalls those who have given him advice along the way. He credits Grady McMahon of MCM Polled Herefords of Nebraska and Tom Thompson of Missouri for helping him with his cattle business; Jay Lampe and Troy Goretzka, both of Iowa, for goat advice; and Missouri sheep breeders Jonah Lasater and Bobby Spoonster for help with market lambs.

“He remembers them all,” Trent says. “He realizes [that] without those individuals being willing to help, he would not be where he is today. We all need those people willing to share their knowledge with us. If they are willing, he listens; we all listen.”

GOAT GROOMER: Clipping and fitting goats is now second nature to 10-year-old Trenton Edwards. He has been raising and showing goats since he first started in 4-H.

Beyond the show ring
To Amanda, showing livestock changed her son. She remembers him as a quiet, shy boy who would never talk in front of people, let alone do an interview on his own with a reporter. Then he joined 4-H and started competing in the livestock exhibitions.

“He has really opened up,” she says. “It boosts his self-confidence.”

His father agrees. “He used to fear recognition by others,” Trent says. “All eyes are on you in the show ring. Now, he is not afraid and is learning how to handle it. I think showing helps that.”

The experience must be rewarding for Trenton as well. Instead of focusing on just one species, he chooses to raise three, requiring more time working with animals. Perhaps that is his goal. After all, if there two places Trenton loves, it is the barn and the show ring.