Birthday week was good for Iowa teen - Mason Shalla wins 4-H Grand Champion Market Steer

Paul Yeager   Welcome into the MToM Show podcast. I'm Paul Yeager and we are at the Iowa State Fair. We're in the middle of one of the livestock areas. And we're with a very special young four acre Mason Shalla you're not even 14 yet. I know you are. Your dad didn't know your age that I'm gonna call your dad out. When did you turn 14, on Monday? See, that's why parents we get a little busy wrapped up. So he's 14. And he has the grand champion for a steer right here behind us. What's that mean to you? When you when I say that to you as it sunk in yet,

Mason Shalla   they are starting now. It's fun. It's awesome.

Paul Yeager   Tell me about Donkey.

Mason Shalla   Oh, he's been a fun steer. He was a little ornery right when we got him. Then working with him every day, he kind of calmed down and kind of been a nice sort of friend have

Paul Yeager   friend you call Donkey a friend now? Well, you have to for as much time as you spend with it. Right? When? So a little backstory when you when most cattle shows it's the same. But the judge came around. When you see the judge walking around and you hear the judge talk. Do you think he's coming for me? And I kind of you did. You did?

Mason Shalla   It's kind of different every single time. But here, I think he really liked mine. He kept looking at it. And I was really excited.

Paul Yeager   So the judge walks out slaps the backside. What do you think? And then

Mason Shalla   it's fun. It was. It was cool. It was cool. How?

Paul Yeager   Tell me about the work that you've done with Donkey.

Mason Shalla   Every morning. When we put them in the cooler. Well, first we wash them and then brush up, put them in the cooler. And we leave them in there for a while. Then about one or two o'clock in the afternoon. We go in that again. And we're in some awesome keep nice, cold. So that girl has more hair that I know like they were cools down to about midnight or 11 o'clock we let them out of the cooler.

Paul Yeager   So this is what you How long have you been doing this?

Mason Shalla   We put him in, Or oh, oh, all about April 1.

Paul Yeager   So since April, you can do it. That's a lot of work since April. And when was Donkey born? 

Mason Shalla   How old are human born? Not, the last one, the winter before?

Paul Yeager   Okay, so we're about 18 months. Yeah. Had you? Is this your first animal? No. I

Mason Shalla   had a steer last year that I had a seer the following year.

Paul Yeager   So you're showing steers when you're 11 Almost 12, Almost 13 Now 13 and 14. What have you gained over those years?

Mason Shalla   First year, I won my county fair. And the second year? I did I didn't have the best one my second year. But it was fun. I go or chartered harder every year that I ended up having this one.

Paul Yeager   Your county Ferris Johnson are you in Washington your Washington feed from Riverside Iowa? So that is south of Iowa City for those who might not know in Iowa? Your Tell me about your farm? What's what's it like?

Mason Shalla   Oh, we have cows hogs and we row crop.

Paul Yeager   Do you show any hogs?

Mason Shalla   Yes, you do. As I show I showed here that I had reserve a heavyweight division.

Paul Yeager   What? What breed? 

Mason Shalla   Crossbreed.

Paul Yeager   So what's the difference between showing in the hog barn versus the cattle barns?

Mason Shalla   Harder lot easier. This wall come every day and hogs are mostly about feeding what they get for feed. Then a cattle are mostly hair like brushing them and work you want to go.

Paul Yeager   Do you do all the brushing?

Mason Shalla   Yeah with this one that my brothers and sisters have their own calves and they do theirs.

Paul Yeager   So tell me about your family. Who else is in your family?

Mason Shalla   Mom Dad, Gina, Nick and my brothers sisters, Avery's my older sister Ryland. He's a couple years older than me to partners my little brother that I have a little sister Evelyn.

Paul Yeager   Evelyn is Evelyn basically like three months old. She's

Mason Shalla   four. She's five months old.

Paul Yeager   I happen to be behind your sister and I didn't realize it yesterday. Standing taking video and it's been a day every time. We're here your sister is looks like he has a future in in in loving shows. Yes, this will seem to be loving it.

Mason Shalla   He loves it mom takes you to the cattle barn or she loves it up there

Paul Yeager   and you There's a photo I'm going to put up now and I'm going to show it to you that I took yesterday. This is one of those things that you just don't know what you're going to have. But that was the backside when you see a photo that looks like that. What do you think is cool? What's cool about it

Mason Shalla   Scalia's so hair and how he looks so good out there and kind of stuck out

Paul Yeager   what do you think the judge saw in Donkey

Mason Shalla   Chow he's so Harry any wrong to good and he's kind of like, as hair thing was so cool and it kind of stuck out and off from the other ones.

Paul Yeager   Now donkey is what type of breed?

Mason Shalla   He's afraid he's a here I am? A what? a here I am. For sorry, antasari either crossbred.

Paul Yeager   So do you think that the breed? I mean, everyone knows an Angus or a Herford or something? And you know, the basic colors? Do you think that and I won't say it's an exotic breed, but a non traditional breed? Do you think shows better?

Yes, he's bred

Mason Shalla   to show. Yes.

He's read the show.

Paul Yeager   Was he born on your farm? No.

Mason Shalla   He was born in Iowa. Oh, but not on my farm. We buy him.

Paul Yeager   What did you did you help by him?

Mason Shalla   Yeah, no, I kind of leave out to my mom and dad.

Paul Yeager   You You're just the one left the keys while the feedings? Your mom and dad. They were pretty proud yesterday, what they tell you after you want

Mason Shalla   farward face off, and they're, they're happy.

Paul Yeager   Then go back to your family. Your older brothers and sisters. have they shown and they have the success that you've had,

Mason Shalla   as well. The sister Eva, she actually won it last year.

Paul Yeager   She won the same competition. Yeah. So now you've been used to dynasty? You think that? Yeah. What? Alright, so did she give you any tips?

Mason Shalla   Yeah, she helped me out a lot in the barn.

Paul Yeager   What's her name? Avery. Okay, so Avery won this last year. And she offers I mean, do you review each other and say you could do this a little different.

Mason Shalla   Today, I will help out each other. It's a family thing. And we can all help each other. And I'll give you all each other pointers and all that.

Paul Yeager   What's a pointer that she gave?

Mason Shalla   Oh, she's telling me how to show and how to like, he has keep his legs set up the right way. And because every calf stare Britt, he's she's kind of since she's older, and she's done a lot longer. She kind of knows what to do.

Paul Yeager   Now I have a near 14 year old at home. And I keep telling them that I have interviewed a lot of 13 and 14 year olds this week, just not on purpose. And I just met somebody that's 14 that's dominant in the food. Your age group, as a lot of you that are pretty darn talented is at the fair. What's what's in that? What's in the 2009 2010 era. Do you think you guys are gonna rule the fair? What else do you do?

Mason Shalla   I farm, our parents and farm and my grandma, grandpa. I like hunting and fishing.

Paul Yeager   What do you like to hunt for deer? Are you a crossbow guy? Or you're a muzzle loader? You're a shotgun dog. What do you like to fish for?

Mason Shalla   Me and my brother. We will both be gone because we have a river right by our house we go fish under fire to campus.

Paul Yeager   So fishing for catfish is a long process to you set a lot of lines. Yeah, we

Mason Shalla   spent a lot of bank lines.

Paul Yeager   Is that are there any bank lines out right now?

Mason Shalla   It's too low.

Paul  All the rivers to low,

Mason Shalla   we have a Deville do as much this year since the river solo. We got it twice early on but that's pretty much it.

Paul Yeager   When so you are in the middle of a very large busy place high traffic the the Iowa State Fair big bowl with governors charity steer show next to you. And then down the line goats and hogs. This is like the All Star Barn. Do you feel that way? Now? What's it like to be in this All Star Barn?

Mason Shalla   It's fun. It's cool.

Paul Yeager   You've said that a lot is cool. Like your go to word down. It hasn't hit you yet. I mean, even before it just as we were starting to record a couple people were coming up shaking your hand saying congratulations. What have people been telling you?

Mason Shalla   And you're serious stuck out it looks really cool. And I think good job on me. Everybody keeps saying real fluffy.

Paul Yeager   And do you believe that?

Mason Shalla   Yeah. Eternal slavery.

Paul Yeager   Yeah. Are you wishing the median Ames fluffy and standard.

Mason Shalla   Yes. And now

Paul Yeager   what about have you talked to anybody that probably is not on the farm today? That's been going by in this busy place, you know? And it's what have they been asking anything?

Mason Shalla   Oh, I've watched his breed and what's his name? And how do you give them that Harry?

Paul Yeager   And then you say genetics. Right? Or brush cold temperatures so how long did the process take yesterday to get show Ready?

Mason Shalla   First thing there it is Sir feed anonyme of the valley. And we got to wash him give all nice clean and we fit the legs like oh no, you can look bigger than that's gonna get the hair look nice and take off the rain now.

Paul Yeager   After the show when you get done with all those photos. You had to take out all these pictures? Do you know everybody that was in the photos?

Mason Shalla   No. Not a lot but not all of them.

Paul Yeager   So but you have the one from last year standing in there by your sister. Right where you ended last year now. Where's that picture in your house?

Mason Shalla   In our main room? Oh I on the wall.

Paul Yeager   So now your picture better be right there right can you told mom man? Yeah, since I want my picture right there. Don't win. Okay, so after all the photos then what happens?

Mason Shalla Oh, we took back to stall gave him a drink, but too hot. Then we are broken down and find a break down his legs break, rinsed them, got a nice cold cooldown and blew them out. Took them all here.

Paul Yeager   And you were still able to do all that last night? You know got late. And then are you sleeping next to him?

Mason Shalla No, I went up to the camper.

Paul Yeager   You got to get him ready one more time. Yeah, that starts to set in. Yeah.

Mason Shalla   Kind of set me kind of sad.

Paul Yeager   Tell me what that's going to be like.

Mason Shalla   It's so hard.

Paul Yeager   Did you have to get them ready for a big sale? The other champions again I guess I'll ask having your sister and your family go through it. Is that you think prepare you a little bit

Mason Shalla    yeah, it's helping out a lot, to know I was kinda like you know,

Paul Yeager   I've seen a lot of tears in there and you're not going to be the first or the last you didn't give dry

Mason Shalla   call when it's okay. I'm close to him. 

Paul Yeager   but that's part of that's that's part of farming it's a lesson that did you think you're going to have that lesson this week?

Mason Shalla   I know it's there's a lot of good calves that are saved hair

Paul Yeager   when you walked through when you're in the ring get ready for your class looking around. Did you go may we got a shot and this one

Mason Shalla   yes and no because the one behind me really good still then class that's what you find a feel good get around that one because that was kind of nervous. Saw that one get around that one.

Paul Yeager   Big shoulders, big legs the backside is that when you saw that you like their posture.

Mason Shalla   He's really hairy and

Paul Yeager   on man. So going through the sale. So it's an annual sale of champions everybody that's in here is going to go through a sale going through that process and then you get to basically one last goodbye so you're not supposed to have those lessons but that's that's part of it.

Mason Shalla   That's part of farming part four age.

Paul Yeager   What's next for you? You're going to be in what eighth grade? So eighth grade at one school lone tree at Lone Tree What do you do at Lone Tree schools.

Mason Shalla   Learn and do have faith and I don't even know sports to go over to help on a farm.

Paul Yeager   It's no time for sports snow.

Mason Shalla   So through these things,

Paul Yeager   will you do other shows or what other shows you're gonna go to

Mason Shalla   all go to Kansas City that is shut down there but they are different calves for that than Denver and over the Denver so this winter then kind of surf back up with another group cities and Beef Expo that's here and holds a little spring or spring shows and all that.

Paul Yeager   What's it like going to the other shows is insane.

Mason Shalla   Not as fun as this but it's fun.

Paul Yeager   So this is this like the top fun here why?

Mason Shalla   Skin is so big. It's so many fans there and all our friends are here and all

Paul Yeager   I've noticed a lot of people coming up to you that I have to be Friends did anybody new show up that maybe from the home area this kind of sought you out after the hearing one?

Mason Shalla   There's been a lot of people I don't know real good. Come up with a tail.

Paul Yeager   That's kind of fun. They're all wanting to talk to you know anybody taking a picture with

Mason Shalla   you? Oh, yeah, a lot. So,

Paul Yeager   so that's why you put on a collared shirt and everything today. Oh, my

Mason Shalla   mom said I had to do this I had to do.

Paul Yeager   Otherwise, what would you have been in a

Mason Shalla   normal t shirt?

Paul Yeager   Okay, so mom and dad and your brothers and sisters and you'll go through and you'll have the sale. What's what's the next animal for you? What do you do you have one picks that you

Mason Shalla   already have one it in the cooler right now. He's for Kansas City. So certainly get him ready and send the girl hair on him.

Paul Yeager   So did your sister compete this year in the seer show? So you beat your sister down? Did you think you would?

Mason Shalla   Yeah. Oh, you did? Oh, yes. And no. Yeah.

Paul Yeager   So now will there be competition for the next kids here?

Mason Shalla   Yeah. Oh, she's a senior this year. So she will have one here next year. She'll still be in Kansas City at Iowa this year.

Paul Yeager   And you'll want to beat her. Yeah. What about your brother?

Mason Shalla   Jenna, he'll show next year. This was actually supposed to be his calf. It was like this winner he's kept other brothers so Smalley this song was a little ornery at first so he get a handle it's high the handle for him? Does he is kind of disappointed that he didn't get his show it.

Paul Yeager   So I was gonna ask this you have a little regret now? What? Did your family How did your family help? But we talked about reviewing things and feedings and, and why it's things like that.

Mason Shalla   We do it all as a family. And my me my dad and my little brother do the morning shift we read so the morning that my mom and my brother and my other sisters knew though, the other shifts. The night shift.

Paul Yeager   Do you is that every day? Is there ever a day?

Mason Shalla   No. Never they all have before this and now I know.

Paul Yeager   So when you say your your cattle and your hogs and crops? But basically, I mean, are you a show family farm? Yeah, yeah, your animals are for show?

Mason Shalla   Yes, may we still have a whole bunch of finisher hogs that are in hog bellies. And we have normal cows. We have a lot of normal cows and a lot of normal fit. Just hogs. So feed out and sell.

Paul Yeager   I know there's a lot of money put into this. What's the prize money going to be for you? What are you gonna do?

Mason Shalla   Fire? Oh, no. They buy farms and they are maybe calves next year or something?

Paul Yeager   And they would be yours? And do you have you found anywhere that will catch the big check? Well, no, and take that to the bank and say, I'd like to assign the back if you want to know.

Mason Shalla   I might keep it maybe when I'm older. Try spend it on a farm or for help out on farm or tractor or something.

Paul Yeager   Yeah, so farming is what you want to do. Yeah. Well, you go. You said your sister's a senior is she leaving to go to college

Mason Shalla   or she's going I'd say that she this week. First class.

Paul Yeager   Do you think you'll follow and go to Iowa State? Are you going to find a new path?

Mason Shalla   Hi, this farm Stearns State Farm that involve

Paul Yeager   alright. Well, Mason, I appreciate it. Was this so bad?

Mason Shalla   Not bad. Either. We were it's just that's the

Paul Yeager   reputation idea. It's very much of a pain in the butt to talk to. Okay, I guess I'll close with this mason again. Is this a life memory for you, yes. why?

Mason Shalla   It's because it's really hard to do that. So I always tell my children it was fine. It was cool.

Paul Yeager   Have you done a lot of selfies or anything with with Donkey over the year or over the time and posted on your social media? I don't have any of that. Oh, okay. Well, that's good. Your parents all y'all have to be in the book because the most important thing is he wants to be on the wall. I want you to also look into there and say thank you to your parents and your brothers and sisters for everything they've done.

Mason Shalla   I really appreciate both parents and my brothers sisters. They've been a lot of help. I wouldn't be able to do this without all

Paul Yeager   the team effort. Yeah, yeah. All right, Mason. Congratulations. Thank you. Thank you. Mason Shalla from Riverside, Iowa and that's the 4-H market steer and, it's a big deal. 1300 And what 35 pounds 1355 pounds of pure Iowa Beef right behind us. Thanks for watching the MToM show podcast. New episodes come out each and every Tuesday. Day here from Market to Market I'm Paul Yeager thank you so very much for watching have a great week

Contact: Paul.Yeager@iowapbs.org