A Dale High School sophomore, who has become accustom to winning major awards with her animals, once again has captured honors in the national show ring.
Morley Griffith, pictured to the right, has been showing animals since she was a small girl. At this year’s American Royal in Kansas City, she won the Champion Intermediate Showman and also claimed the Reserve Grand Overall Showman title.
Morley, 16, is the daughter of Matt and Twana Griffith. She won the honors showing her December Heifer “Cowgirl,” born in December of 2018.
She also captured the Reserve Grand Champion honors with “Cowgirl,” in both the Red Angus Purebred Junior and Open Shows.
Morley said her heifer was competing with around 250 other Red Angus in the competition that ran from Oct. 17-21.
Nearly two years ago, Morley claimed national honors at the American Royal with her heifer Mimi, who is retired and as Morley puts it, “having babies on the family farm.”
The only relationship Mimi and Cowgirl have is they are both Red Angus, Morley said.
At Kansas City earlier this month, Morley said she was in the show ring nine times. “Two were for the showmanship and the other seven were for Junior and Open shows for the classes, the division and grand drive,” she added.
Morley said Cowgirl, born in December nearly two years ago, is getting close to the end of her show career. “She’ll be showing at least until late January and could show later than that.
Cowgirl was champion AOB Heifer and Morley won Intermediate Showmanship honors at this year’s Pottawatomie County Junior Livestock Show in March.
Morley explained, “There is a lot of preparation for the American Royal, working with her on her showmanship skills, you have to make sure you and her get along in the ring and that she’s groomed really well.”
She spends quite a bit of time each day with her heifer. “You have to feed her twice a day, wash her and work with her hair. “Probably 3 ½ hours a day,” she estimates on the time spent daily.
Morley continued, “I’m still passionate about showing. I love doing it with my family, and as I’ve gotten older I realize I can’t show forever. So, I try and take the moment and enjoy.”