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NOVINGER, MO. -- Meet 18 year old Dalyn Amidei of Novinger. He has been involved with raising cattle since he could walk  He has always been interested in steers and heifers due to his own parents background with these livestock animals and helping out on his own family farm. He has a strong passion for it.

“I just really fell in love with it and wanted to show." Said Amidei. "I wanted to learn as much as I could about raising and showing cattle. I wanted to know what I can do to make myself better at it and what I can do to make the cows better to get to the winning place I’m at now.”

Dalyn has been showing cattle since he was 8 years old in when he got involved in 4-H. He has been to the Sullivan, NEMO, AGR, and Missouri State fairs and has received many awards and recognition.

“In 2006, I got Reserve Champion Steer and at the state fair I got Champion 4-H Angus Steer. That’s probably one of my biggest accomplishments that I got.”

Dalyn says raising cattle takes a lot of dedication and responsibility.

“You got to be very dedicated." Said Amidei.  "Be able to wake up early. Go out and feed. Get everything done before you go to school. Then come home. Finish chores before you go to bed. Just getting to the point you are comfortable with them and they’re comfortable with you so you can lead them around the ring with no problem.”

Dalyn says that he would never get to this point if it wasn’t for the continuing love and support of his older sister.

“Every time I’m in the show ring, I look at my sister. She’s been doing it a lot longer than I have and she’s been doing a lot longer than I have and she’s won more than I have. I just have a lot of respect for her.”

Other than taking care of his cattle; Dalyn is an excelling student and is an active member of the National Honor Society. He is also Vice President of the Adair County R-1 FFA chapter. Dalyn wants to continue working in agriculture and hopes to compete one day at The American Royal with his prized cows and friends Paris and Penny.

“You get to have a close bond with the calves. It’s like having a best friend." Said Amidei.  "You can’t let them go and they won’t let you go. You spend a year with them and you just can’t get rid of them.”

Congratulations Dalyn on being this week’s Ag Kid.