Since she was 10, Nicole Leishman has been raising, showing and selling sheep, goats and pigs at the Kern County and Antelope Valley fairs.
Now 19, Leishman, a political science major at Bakersfield College, is in her final year showing livestock.
Leishman was inspired to raise animals after watching her older brother in high school do it. After studying numerous pig and sheep shows she decided to take what she liked from others and give it a shot with her own style. She has come a long way from when she started though and with help from her brother, her agriculture teachers and her club advisors she has won many awards such as ribbons, belt buckles, halters and has also received money for her animals along the way.
Leishman gets the animals from breeders as babies and then raises them on her own, hoping for a profit when the fair season comes.
“I’ve bought animals for as little as $90 and as much as $275. With pigs I normally make double what I spend usually profiting between $400-$250.”
According to Leishman taking care of the animals is a very time consuming process, but one that she enjoys.
“I feed the animals everyday before dark and show every animal I own for at least 30 minutes a day. It takes a lot of time and effort because it’s like having a kid,” Leishman said. “You have to pay for all their doctor bills, antibiotics, shots or whatever else they may need. I like to feed and clean up after the animals though because it’s very calming for me, and a good getaway from the busy hustle and bustle of the world. It reminds me a lot of the good old days.”
Despite that it takes so much time out of her day, Leishman said this process has become such a huge part of her life that even though she is too old to show the animals, she will continue to breed sheep for the Kern County Fair.
“I’ve always been poor at quitting things anyway, but raising animals has been my favorite release. It’s helped me a lot with time management and it’s a science to know how to feed them. You have to know just how much fiber they’re getting, how much protein, etc,” she said. “It’s always been a lot of fun too. Pigs are like overgrown dogs to me, I love playing with them. They’re smart too. They hear me call their name and they come running. ”
According to Leishman, selling the animals is the hardest part. “The experience you get is worth it. Some years are harder than others . when you raise them you know what they are going to be used for. Even so, you can’t help but love them.”
Leishman who is part of the Grange-Kern Buena Vista club encourages anyone interested in showing animals to go visit the fairgrounds and talk to different clubs.
“You can be independent and don’t have to be affiliated with a club, but it definitely helps,” she said.