Hello, my name is Addisyn, and I am a member of the Harwood 4H club in Southern Anne Arundel County.  I am in 8th grade student in the STEM program at Central Middle School.  

For the 2025 Fair, I am excited to introduce my steer, Stanley.

Stanley comes from a small farm in Keymar, Maryland, specializing in Heritage Shorthorn cattle. Heritage Shorthorns are an older breed, known for having well marbled, high-quality beef and a gentle, calm nature.  When choosing a steer last fall, I knew I needed to find one I would be able to break, instead of him breaking me!  I saw Stanley for the first time in September; he was with mom out in the field; he was calm and didn't pay much mind to me.  Even though he had never been handled, Stanley came home with me on October 12th.  To my surprise, I was able to get him haltered, off the trailer, and into his new stall by myself.  I knew I made the right choice; he's been my buddy ever since.

Over the past year, Stanley and I have spent countless hours working together—learning how to walk, stand, get his hooves trimmed, and even relax when the clippers come out.  When Stanely isn't training (or eating), he's enjoying his favorite past time, sprawled in the grassy field fast asleep.

Stanley's easygoing nature has given me the opportunity to become more confident handling large animals this year.  Handling a steer that weighs ten times more than I do is intimidating!  I am proud of how much I have grown this year.  Stanley has shown me I can overcome my fears and handle stressful situations one step at a time. He’s truly the best show partner I could have asked for.

While I will greatly miss him after the fair, I hope you will consider bidding on Stanley on auction night.  He has been raised on my family's small Lothian farm, given the best care possible, to ensure you receive the best quality product.  Thank you for supporting 4-H youth like me.

Addisyn