Each day, 10-year-old Jade McCray washes and dries Bryce. He also feeds him and gives him water and takes him out for exercise.  

 

What sets Jade’s animal apart is it is a 1,350-pound steer he has raised in hopes of showing and selling at the West Virginia State Fair. This is Jade’s second year in 4-H, but he’s certainly not a beginner when it comes to cattle.

 

At around the same age as Jade is now, his father, Jared McCray began his own involvement with 4-H . It created a lifelong passion for raising cattle and one that he has shared with Jade since he was five years old. As Jared grew older, the number of participants in the 4-H livestock programs dwindled and he wanted to change that for the next generation. His efforts created opportunities for children of all backgrounds to experience raising livestock, showing animals and selling their animals.  

 

When COVID-19 led to cancellations around the state, the West Virginia State Fair was among them. Amanda and Jared wanted to find a way to honor all of Jade’s hard work and help him sell his steer and recoup some of the money he invested. They also wanted him to be able to buy a steer for next year’s project.  

 

“Jade puts his heart into working on the farm and with his steer,” said Amanda.  “He was so upset about the cancellation of the fair and his lost opportunity to show and sell this year.  We decided to get creative and raffle off the two halve of beef.”

 

The family is currently selling raffle tickets for the two chances to win ½ beef. Tickets are $20 and there will be a live drawing on August 20 on Facebook at 8:00p.m. on the McCray Cattle Company page.  The beef will go to the butcher on August 24 and the winners can choose how it’s cut up and the butcher fees will be included in the winnings. 

 

Those wishing to purchase tickets can mail a check to Jade McCray at P.O. Box 13, Anmoore, WV 26323 or through the PayPal link on the Facebook page. Tickets are being labeled and put into the raffle as they are purchased and Jade is very excited to see his livestock project continue in a less conventional way.