By: Ryan Métivier This past April, Northumberland 4-H’s Hailie Conley was part of Team Canada travelling to Malvern, England to participate in the Young Show Stars Beef Competition. The team brought home second place. Canada’s squad was the only one invited from outside of the United Kingdom. They gained the spot with their performance at the 2014 Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. The team included Conley, Reserve Grand Champion Showman, fellow Ontarian Courtney Walker of North Simcoe County, Reserve Grand Champion Intermediate Showman, and Jack Oates of Brome County, Quebec, Grand Champion Showman. Now in her fifth year of 4-H, Conley says she had some trepidation leading up to the competition, knowing they only had 24 hours to get the heifers accustomed to them and ready to show. The experience of meeting new people, learning the different ways they prepare cattle, show and live were things she’ll never forget. “I learned a lot about myself on this trip! I learned that I was able to do things that I would never have thought I could do like fit most of a heifer by myself,” says Conley. “As the youngest one on the team, I was a little nervous because I didn’t have the experience fitting that the others have.” However, Conley had the encouragement of her teammates, and says the group came together to bond quickly. “The team was awesome and I couldn’t have asked for anyone better to travel and share this amazing experience with,” she says. “We all had different skills that we brought to the table and weaknesses that we worked together to help each other out with.” This summer Conley is excited to learn more, as she has moved to Eby Ranch in Kansas to learn new techniques and to show her 4-H heifer at the Angus Junior Nationals.