Months of training pay off for 4-H, FFA youth at livestock show

Sam Plummer brushes his steer before the beef showmanship and market judging at the Northwest Montana Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Ione Plummer brushes her steer before the beef showmanship and market judging. at the Northwest Montana Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Ione Plummer, 10, shows her steer during the beef showmanship judging at the Northwest Montana Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Ione Plummer, 10, speaks with livestock judge Josh Stroh during the beef showmanship and market judging at the Northwest Montana Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Sam Plummer, 12, shows his steer during the beef showmanship and market judging at the Northwest Montana Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Sam Plummer, right, speaks with livestock judge Josh Stroh during the beef showmanship and market judging at the Northwest Montana Fair on Tuesday, Aug. 14. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Montana Livestock Inspector Wes Seward has Ione Plummer sign a bill of sale for her market steer. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

Montana Livestock Inspector Wes Seward has Sam Plummer sign a bill of sale for her market steer. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

Ione Plummer, 10, and a fellow exhibitor console each other as the market beef are loaded into trailers to be taken to Vandevanter Meats on Aug. 19 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

Ione Plummer, 10, and her sister Sadie, 6, embrace each other after Ione’s and brother, Sam’s market beef are driven away to Vandevanter Meats on Aug. 19 at the Flathead County Fairgrounds. (Hilary Matheson/Daily Inter Lake)

From left, Samuel, Janell, Ione and Sadie Plummer at Vandevanter Meats in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Aug. 22. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Ron Vandevanter, of Vandevanter Meats, judges the beef from Ione Plummer’s steer at Vandevanter Meats in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Aug. 22. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)

Ron Vandevanter, of Vandevanter Meats, shows the Plummers a ribeye cut of beef inside the cooler in Columbia Falls on Wednesday, Aug. 22. (Casey Kreider/Daily Inter Lake)