From Calf to Show Ring
Makayla Comer is a junior at Catoctin High School and a member of the Future Farmers of America (FFA). She is serving as the 2025-2026 Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show Ambassador and currently serves as Social Media Coordinator. In this monthly series, Comer will take readers behind the scenes of what it takes to raise both market and breeding cattle, sharing her journey as she prepares to show at the Carroll County Fair and the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show in 2026. Comer and her family own and operate a cattle farm in Rocky Ridge, Maryland. Readers are invited to follow along as she shares the dedication, responsibility, and hard work involved in raising cattle.
For my 2026 market and breeding projects, all animals were born and bred on my farm. The steer I plan to take to the Thurmont & Emmitsburg Community Show in September is a Maintainer named Fort Worth. Fort Worth was born on March 25, 2025, and was the last calf born on my farm in 2025. I also plan to bring two heifers to the community show. My Maintainer heifer, Montana, and my Shorthorn Plus heifer, Daytona.
On March 19, we had another calf born. She is black and from one of our Angus cross cows and my two-year-old bull. On March 22, we had another calf born, and she is red and white. She is also from one of our Angus cross cows.
On March 24, my Hereford cow Arabella had a Hereford bull calf. He is the first boy that has survived this year, and we are so excited. He will most likely be my show steer next year. And as we were coming from the PCA Jackpot Show, my cow Fluffy, who is a Maine, had a maintainer heifer calf. They are all happy and healthy, and only two more cows have yet to calve.
On March 20-22, we headed to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, for the Mid-Atlantic Show. We had a great turnout, with me placing 7th overall. Intermediate showman, Montana, placed 1st and 2nd in her class, and Daytona placed 6th in their class. On market day, Fort Worth placed 4th in both rings. This show had two rings and two judges. Each judge has a different opinion and will place each class differently. The following weekend, we headed up to Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, for the PCA Jackpot Show. This show is also a two-ring show with two different judges. I didn’t place in showmanship, but Montana placed 3rd and 2nd. Daytona also placed 3rd and 2nd. And Fort Worth ended up placing 3rd in both rings. I also ended up placing 3rd in the skillathon that weekend. It was a great turnout for both of these shows.
On April 11, I had my county’s Beef Field Day. We were only allowed to take two animals, and I decided to take Fort Worth and Daytona. I ended up getting pulled and going in for senior champion in showmanship. Daytona won Reserve Champion Shorthorn Plus Heifer. Fort Worth placed 3rd in his class. Later that night, I attended the Maryland Shorthorn Dinner, where I was announced as the Maryland Shorthorn Lassie and Junior Secretary.
You’ve heard me talk about showmanship at the beginning of my article. In showmanship, it is mostly all about you and how you present your animal. Judges are looking for eye contact and correct feet placement. Those two things will bump you up into a higher place. You want your animal to set up immediately, so you don’t waste time on their feet and not looking at the judge. The judge may ask you some questions regarding your animal, like how much it weighs, its date of birth, breed, and even what you are feeding them. Sometimes, they will just say, “Tell me about your animal.” Here, I like to list breed, weight, sire, and date of birth. You could even mention that it is bred and owned if you would like, if you are showing your own calves born on your farm. They might even make you switch your animal with someone else, or take away your showstick to see how well you actually work with your animal. My family likes to say I need to smile more in the ring. Well, smiling may knock you down as you don’t look serious about showing and just wanna goof around. They may take it as unprofessional. I personally like to smile when I go in for a hand shake and say thank you for my placement.
Reserve Champion Shorthorn Plus Heifer, EPL Daytona Reward at Carroll County Beef Field Day; Danette Comer is shown in back holding ribbons, and Makayla Comer is shown holding Daytona.
Makayla Comer and Fort Worth in Showmanship at Mid-Atlantic.
