Weaverville – North Buncombe High School Sophomore Shelby Candler likes raising and showing livestock.”I have been showing livestock for three years,” Candler tells the Tribune. On August 1st of this year the National Roper’s Supply (NRS), provider of western wear and horse tack, inducted its third ever NRS livestock “Show Team.” Candler was one of its members.
In an effort to build awareness of its show supply offering, NRS began selecting a team of the best 25 to 26 youth exhibitors. These exhibitors not only exhibit multiple species but travel around the country to the nation’s greatest events. Show Team Advisor, Tayler Sullivent said, “The NRS Show Team was created to select an exclusive group of influencers within the livestock industry that would ‘show for the brand.’ These exhibitors were hand selected because of their success and leadership roles within the show world. NRS partnered with companies such as Cinch and Twisted X to provide apparel and footwear to make this opportunity possible. National Roper’s Supply is thankful for each member of our show team and the opportunity to play a part in supporting young agriculturists.”
Candler, of Weaverville, is said to be “among the best and brightest chosen to participate as a member of the 2020-2021 NRS Show Team. Shelby’s participation and success in events such as Catawba Valley Showmanship Circuit, accompanied by their ability to professionally represent and other brands made them an ideal candidate to represent NRS. Shelby looks forward to a successful year of showing and representing National Roper’s Supply both in and out of the show ring.”
Candler, 15, told the newspaper, “I am very active in FFA and serve as a chapter officer. I also am very active with 4-H Livestock Judging competing all over the southeastern part of the United States. In 2018 I was the Catawba Valley Showmanship circuit Intermediate division champion with an undefeated score, in 2019 I was the SR division champion and the youngest in that division. This year in the barn I have six Simmental and Sim-Angus heifers that I plan to show. One of them is a project heifer I received from the 2019 Kenneth Ambrose Memorial Heifer Scholarship. I enjoy showing all species and plan to show a market barrow soon.”
Candler’s family raises commercial and registered Simmental, Sim-Angus, and Angus cattle herd. “I plan to go to the University of Tennessee or NC State University to study animal reproduction and peruse a career as an Embryologist. I am excited and look forward to representing NRS through the 2020-2021 show season,” she said.
Shelby’s parents are John and Jodi Candler. You can stay up to date with Shelby and the other show team members throughout the year by following the NRS social media pages on both Facebook (NRS World) and Instagram (@nrsworld).