Family Awarded
Every year, the contribution to the Butler Farm Show from Slippery Rock's Teets family grows. However, this year the family left the farm show with a trophy that's been awarded only 68 times.
Whether they are bringing more supplies and equipment or a new animal to the grounds, the family, made up of parents Joshua and Jodi and their children Colt, 17, and Morgan, 15, have been consistently growing their repertoire since they began attending about six years ago.
“Our first couple years we started with pigs, then we brought lambs,” Jodi Teets said. “This year was the first year we brought in a steer.”
The family was awarded this year with one of the farm show's highest honors, the Eagle Bowl, which is given to a farm show participant with the best “quantity and quality” contribution, according to Ken Laughlin, president of the Butler Farm Show Board of Directors.
“It is decided by the greatest amount of participation in the farm show,” Laughlin said. “It's typically a whole family unit that gets awarded.”
Jodi Teets said people have encouraged her family to go for the award in the past because of their participation in the farm show. They have a farm in Slippery Rock to which the family members tend, and Colt and Morgan are both involved in 4-H.
This year, Morgan auctioned a grand champion hog Thursday, and also a lamb. Colt auctioned off a hog, and won the first-place award in the tractor handling competition. He also won an award for showmanship with a steer.
Jodi Teets said these awards are accredited to her children being so accustomed to farm life.
“My kids can do everything on our farm,” Jodi Teets said. “We bought the farm when I was pregnant with my son; it's all they know.”
Butler Eagle general manager Tammy Schuey presented the award, and said she understands the work put in by 4-H members because she herself grew up on a farm.
“I truly appreciate all of these children and what they do on the farm,” she said.
The award has been given annually since 1952, with the only exception being last year when the farm show was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Laughlin said a new bowl is created each year, and the annual winner gets to keep it as a trophy.
The farm show board also gave the Founder's Award to Dutch Grabe, who served on the board of directors for 44 years.
