Showing cattle is more than just a job

Showing cattle has become a lifestyle for the Thomaes and the Cameron County Fair & Livestock Show this weekend was another opportunity for family members to display their award-winning livestock.

The livestock show runs concurrent with the Los Fresnos PRCA Rodeo, and gives children and teenagers the opportunity to hone their animal handling skills, as they display their favorite livestock before a panel of judges.

This year, Charmaine, 17, and her brother Lane, 8, won several prize ribbons thanks to their three heifers and two calves.

"It’s fun, but it’s also a lot of work," Charmaine Thomae said. "We have to feed them, clip their hair, take care of their feet, basically make them look their best."
To be the best, the heifers received regular hair trims, shampoos and blow-dryings.

Unlike other types of competition, presenting animals in livestock shows is a year-round enterprise that teaches responsibility, said Charmaine’s mother, Galyn, who also competed as a child and then showed horses professionally for several years.

"My daughter doesn’t hang out at the mall or is constantly out with friends," the mother said. "After school she is taking care of her animals. ... So far, she is undefeated this year."

Charmaine has been competing for 10 years and is currently the No. 9 ranked handler in her division in the state, Galyn Thomae said.

Having both of his children successfully competing in livestock shows brings a sense of pride to their father, Dennis, who supports their efforts and takes them across the state to compete.

"This is great; it teaches them about responsibility," Dennis Thomae said. "If they don’t take care of their animals, they (the cattle) won’t eat or drink and won’t be ready for the show. ... This teaches them about competition and about trying their best. To win a show is not something that they can just prepare for a few days before. They have to be constantly taking care of their animals."

The Thomaes have a 400-acre ranch, near Rio Hondo, where Charmaine and Lane work with their livestock and their parents raise approximately 40 head of cattle.

"We’re not a big ranching family, both Dennis and I work during the day," Galyn Thomae said.

After winning his divisions, Lane, who is in his first year of competition, was happy to be spending time with his calves, to which he has grown very close.

"You take care of them and they like you," he said. "If they like you enough, you can even sit on them."