One of the most cherished traditions at the Arizona State Fairgrounds are the livestock competitions held during Fair season. For many, showing animals is more than just a hobby, it is a deep rooted family tradition. For others, it is a newfound passion sparked by school programs and an inspiration for a career in Ag. This Mother’s Day, we’re celebrating Mothers and Daughters who share a love for livestock, and the bonds born and nurtured through agriculture.
Haven, a Future Farmers of America (FFA) high school student, inspired her mother, Shavonne, to fall in love with the world of livestock. Then there is Kailee, a generational livestock exhibitor, and her mother, Tammie, a coach and lifelong livestock show competitor, who carry on the proud family tradition. Haven and Kailee share a similar story, both developing a deeper knowledge and appreciation for agriculture through their high school FFA Chapter.
For Kailee and Tammie Zimmerman, showing livestock isn’t just something they do: it’s something their whole family does together. Kailee says, “I started showing when I was nine, my dad had shown, aunts and uncles had shown, and even my grandma, and her siblings would come to the State Fairgrounds and show in the Coliseum…there’s nothing like the memories of being with your family in livestock shows and working in the barn to prepare.” Tammie has been sharing her love of livestock shows with her family from day one. She’s not only a seasoned competitor herself, but now helps coach others in the show circuit. She reflects, “It really did cause relationships to be bonded, with Travis [her husband] and I and our kids, everyone just out in the barns working together. And it’s not always rosy out in the barn…but at the end of the day, I feel like they are closer together for their times together raising these animals.”
The Zimmerman’s have spent a lot of time at the Fairgrounds over the years, and it’s clearly a place that feels like home. Kailee shares, “For us, it was just our family…our family decided to be really involved in showing livestock. It was something we did every single day together. My greatest memories of my life are of me and my brothers and my parents in the barn at night, cleaning pens and washing animals and being together, and on the weekends, loading up and going to a jackpot show. We joke that we were raised at the Fairgrounds, spending weeks there for the Arizona Nationals, State Fair and County Fair and just feel really at home there.” And after a long day in the barns, the family loves kicking back with as many Texas Twisters and tacos as they can find. Kailee and Tammie’s shared love of livestock and agriculture is a true reminder of how special this lifestyle can be and how it brings families even closer together.
Haven and Shavonne Updike came into the livestock world as newcomers, but quickly found their place. Haven says, “My family was surprised when I told them in eighth grade I wanted to be a part of FFA, let alone in sophomore year I told them I wanted to show livestock. It’s a completely new world for my family.” Once she got started, she was all in. Her days were packed with animal care and basketball practice: “Feed before school, then I’d go to school, and then I’d get out around lunchtime, and I’d leave. I’d go clean my pigs stall out. I’d go bathe her. I’d go walk her a bit. I’d go scrub her, brush her, and then I’d go to basketball practice, and then after basketball, I’d go back and I’d feed her second meal of the day, and make sure everything’s ready to go for the night”. Shavonne reflects on how much she’s learned and how Haven’s dedication has impacted their whole family. She says “Haven has literally had to guide me and our family throughout all of this while learning about it herself. Her insatiable thirst for knowledge of all things livestock, competitions and agriculture has shown us that she is a force to behold both in and out of the ring and stalls… It has helped our communication and coordinated planning and also allowed me to see just how responsible, compassionate and caring she is. Outside of the invaluable life skills it has helped instill in her, it has also given our family some incredible traditions centered around these Fairgrounds. The sights, tastes, smells, rides, sounds, familiar faces… all of it. This place will always hold many magical and memorable moments for our family and the relationships made here. Though we came as strangers, this amazing livestock loving community welcomed us in, taught us much, and we left feeling like we have a more extended family.” And of course, they can’t leave the Fairgrounds without seeing how many times they can ride Turbo.
Both of these stories remind us that livestock showing is all about family and honoring old traditions and starting new ones. This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the moms who show up, learn, teach, and grow alongside their kids. Happy Mother’s Day to the amazing women behind the barn doors.
