Four generations of Switzer family members have won 4-H awards at the California Mid-State Fair. Jo Ann Switzer was the first Cattlewoman of the Year.
Switzer became famous in 4-H over many years. She left her family with big shoes to fill.
Hailey Rose Switzer, Switzer’s granddaughter, said, “My grandma has had more grand champions than anyone else here at this fair.”
The daughter of Hailey and Jo Ann and a great-granddaughter of Jo Ann, Holley Faye Switzer, is also naturally competitive.
“I won the show with my breeding sheep on Monday.” “Then I showed my market goat yesterday, and we won his class,” Holley Faye said.
She got two more wins on Wednesday when she showed her heifer. She won Supreme Champion and Junior Champion.
4-H is a way of life for the Switzers.
“Some kids dance or play sports, and their parents come to watch.” “For us, this is like the Olympics,” Hailey Rose said.
On Wednesday, Jo Ann Switzer was proud to see her great-granddaughter fight.
“[I’m] very proud of her because she’s a very hardworking little girl,” she said.
But what makes her most proud are the lessons her family has learned along the way.
“Once they’re out of 4-H or FFA, they’ve learned the basics of life about bookkeeping, about banking, responsibility and caring,” said Switzer.