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EXPRESS Basehor-Linwood High School
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The Express Basehor-Linwood HS Fall 2011 | Issue 2 December 14, 2011
Taylor Leach: by Shelli Brannan
Dairy Queen Taylor Leach, a junior at Basehor-Linwood High School lives a far from normal teen life. “A normal day for me probably isn’t considered normal for most people.” Her day is full between studying and helping cook dinner and feeding the animals. Living as a dairy farmer, Taylor leaves up to a week at a time to go show her cattle. Taylor’s day after school is overflowing with things she must do. “I go home and do my homework like most students here at school but after I’m done, I have to go up to our farm and milk, feed the heifers - a young female cow that has not borne a calf, and the newborn babes, then I usually end up either cooking or helping cook dinner.” Going up to the farm to feed the animals is no easy task considering that they have about “30 milk cows, 20 that aren’t milking, 40 heifers and about 10 little babies. But the number is always changing,” Taylor observed, “we are always selling some, and little ones are always being born.”
Usually lasting up to a week and a half Taylor says that she and her family go to about 7 shows a year, 3 of them being national events. Traveling to many cities including Madison, Wisc; Louisville, Ky; and Stillwater, Ok. Plus on top off all that her family goes to the local state and county show. When teacher and coach McBride of Basehor-Linwood was approached about Taylor missing school he revealed that, “there is always a fear that students will fall behind on work, but most kids that are involved in extracurricular activities are pretty well motivated and are able to make it work.” “My mom and dad grew up on dairy farms, so I am a 3rd generation dairy farmer. I also have cousins who are also involved with dairy farming. Though my mom and dad gave me the choice of either liking what they did or not being a part of it,” Taylor confessed, “I chose to be a part of it, and now I am committed to it after all the hard work and dedication I have put in.” Her favorite part about
being a dairy farmer is “working with my family each day. We have our up and downs like all families, but working together brings us closer.” She and her sister also attend the National Holstein Convention, which is held in a different state each year. Her whole family is involved. “My family is always with me, and our fitting crew is always changing, but they go to most as well. Plus I have certain friends that I always see at certain shows.” When asked about Taylor’s involvement in dairy life Courtney Lieve, a junior and close friend to Taylor said, “It is cool that she gets to show her cows and win prizes. It’s hard when she is gone for a long
time, though, because she isn’t here to help me with my Government homework!” For the 5 years they have known each other Courtney hasn’t made it to a show, but would love to one day. Winning? Taylor sure is. “This year I have been honored to accept the Judy Collinsworth Memorial Outstanding Jr. Exhibiter award that is given to only 4 kids in the nation. I have also won many showmanship awards over the years that I am very proud of and have placed in the top ten in the World several time which is an honor.” Lets not forget about the 1st place price that she and her sister took for best owned and bred Jersey cow along with the two 3rd place
winnings Taylor grabbed for her Holstein cow and showmanship. Other then taking care of her animals, Taylor enjoys photography, which has also won prizes like Grand Champion and being in the American Royal. She got into photography because of her mom. She is also in 4H, so she has to do a lot of sewing on the side. Taylor says that she matches up with a life of a dairy farmer, “ I’m not saying living in the city is bad, but I know I wouldn’t like it. I like being able to not see a car drive by every time I step outside.” “I have made so many memories living on a farm, I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”